The article below is from AP Ltd

"Double jeopardy" rule to be axed

Second trials in cases like the Stephen Lawrence and Damilola Taylor murders could go ahead under trial system reforms announced by the Home Secretary.

David Blunkett wants to dilute the 800-year-old principle of double jeopardy - which prevents anyone being tried twice for the same crime.

The change will be retrospective, so that suspects who have already been acquitted could find themselves back in the dock if there is "compelling new evidence".

And it will apply to a far wider range of crimes than previously thought - not only murder but for armed robbery, rape and manslaughter.

It is part of a sweeping criminal justice White Paper which also said jurors should be allowed to be hear defendants' previous convictions, previous acquittals and "hearsay" evidence.

Some dangerous or violent offenders will be kept in prison indefinitely, even if they have not been sentenced to life, it added.

And under another change proposed, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, the young killers of toddler James Bulger, would not have been tried in an adult court.

Hundreds of young offenders charged with serious crimes each year will now be tried at youth court rather than Crown court.

Mr Blunkett said: "We will try to sort out the system from end to end with what I call straight common sense. We are trying to provide a blueprint for the next decade."

Unveiling his double jeopardy plan, Mr Blunkett said: "With the development of DNA and forensic science it would be entirely wrong to rule out compelling new evidence that actually does show the person committed the crime."