Rod Liddle’s controversial comment piece on the Stephen Lawrence murder trial for the Spectator has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions by Attorney General Dominic Grieve.
A statement released by Grieve’s office today said: ‘After careful consideration of this serious matter the Attorney General has concluded that the article may amount to a breach of a court order made under section 82 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
‘A breach of such an order is a criminal offence under section 83 of that act.
“While a prosecution can be brought by the attorney general or with his consent, accepted practice is that such matters are more appropriately handled by the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] and the police.
‘In accordance with usual practice he has referred the matter to the DPP for consideration.
“It will be for the CPS to determine whether a criminal prosecution should be brought and that attorney has no role in its decision. His consent will have to be granted to a CPS decision to prosecute the matter, under s83 CJA 2003.”
The two defendants in the case, Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris 35, deny murder.
The trial continues.
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