BNP tweet put case at risk

TWEET: BNP leader Nick Griffin (right)

A TWEET from BNP leader Nick Griffin almost caused the trial to collapse when it led to allegations of the jury having a “far–right bias”.

Last Thursday afternoon — two–and–a–half days after the jury retired to consider its verdicts — Griffin posted a comment on his @nickgriffinmep account which read: “News flash. Seven of the Muslim paedophile rapists found guilty in Liverpool.”

Griffin later backtracked on Twitter when he was told that the jury had not yet officially returned any verdicts.

The tweet led to eight defence counsel calling on Judge Gerald Clifton to discharge the jury before it delivered verdicts after investigations revealed Griffin’s comment to be a “100 per cent accurate” reflection of its deliberations so far. Some believe jury members might have revealed their secret deliberations.

Inquiries carried out by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service showed the message was published when the jury was in its jury room — where all electronic equipment is banned.

The judge accepted that no jury member had been involved.



‘Pakistani community should not bury heads in the sand’
THE leader of the Ramadhan Foundation has accused Pakistani community elders of “burying their heads in the sand” on the issue of on–street grooming.

Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the group, said police should not let the “issue of race” stop them from addressing the issue.

The Manchester–based Muslim organisation works for “peaceful co–existence and dialogue for all communities”.

Mr Shafiq said: “There is a significant problem for the British Pakistani community.

“They think white teenage girls are worthless and can be abused without a second thought.

He added: “I have been overwhelmed by the support the Ramadhan Foundation has been given by young people for our campaign on child grooming but concerned that community elders are once again burying their heads in the sand, this concerns us all and we must speak out.

“The Ramadhan Foundation is ready to stand with anyone who wishes to protect these young teenagers.”


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