AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Public Statement

AI Index: EUR 45/011/2005 (Public)

News Service No: 113

29 April 2005

UK: Law Lords to decide if “evidence” obtained by torture is admissible

A Joint Statement by:

AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe)

Amnesty International

Association for the Prevention of Torture

British Irish Rights Watch

Committee on the Administration of Justice

Doctors for Human Rights

Human Rights Watch

INTERIGHTS

International Federation of Human Rights

Liberty

REDRESS

The Law Society of England and Wales

The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture

World Organisation Against Torture

On 18 April 2005 the Law Lords agreed to allow the above-mentioned coalition to intervene in the forthcoming appeal before their Lordships arising from an August 2004 ruling of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales that "evidence" obtained by torture of a third party is admissible unless it has been directly procured by UK agents or if they have connived in its procurement.

In its oral and written intervention the coalition will recall that the absolute prohibition of torture or other ill-treatment requires the exclusion as "evidence" in any proceedings of any statement where there is knowledge or belief that it has been obtained as a result of any such ill-treatment, except against a person accused of such treatment as evidence that the statement was made.

In October, the Law Lords will hear the appeal brought by 10 foreign nationals who were interned without charge or trial against the August 2004 Court of Appeal's judgment.

The coalition has retained Richard Stein, Jamie Beagent and Johanna Hickman of Leigh Day & Co solicitors, on a pro bono basis. Edward Fitzgerald QC, Keir Starmer QC, Mark Henderson, Joseph Middleton, Peter Morris and Laura Dubinsky, barristers at Doughty Street Chambers, have been instructed, also pro bono.