Barry Horne To Appeal

On 12th November, after a 10 day trial, a jury found Barry Horne guilty of six charges of arson and attempted arson on the Isle of Wight in 1994. Sentence has been adjourned until Friday 5th December for pre-sentence reports.

Barry had pleaded guilty to attempted arson in Bristol in 1996 but the prosecution case was that the devices were so similar to those used in the Isle of Wight attacks that the same person was responsible for both. Both the judge and the prosecution accepted that all the evidence linking the two attacks was circumstantial; there was no fingerprint or any other forensic evidence; a photofit picture released shortly after the Isle of Wight attacks bore no resemblance to Barry; and fourteen eye-witnesses failed to pick out Barry on ID parades. Despite all this the judge stated that there was an abundance of evidence.

After the verdict Barry's lawyer immediately announced that he would be appealing, mainly on the grounds that the judge misdirected the jury on some crucial points. Barry's sentencing will take place at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 5th December. Contact the Barry Horne Support Campaign 0976 200724

Stop Press Barry Horne got 18 years