Murder jury wait (21.2.89)

Murder jury wait – Jason Swift murder
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Times, The (London, England)-February 21, 1989

A murder trial jury sworn in at the Central Criminal Court yesterday was told it might have to wait six weeks to hear evidence because of legal submissions. Five men are accused over the killing of Jason Swift, aged 14, whose body was found near Ongar, Essex, in November, 1985.

Leslie Bailey, aged 35, and Robert Oliver, aged 34, both of Hackney, east London, plead not guilty to murder. Sidney Cooke, aged 61, of Homerton, Donald Smith, aged 64, of Hackney, and Stephen Barrell, aged 29, of Dagenham, Essex, deny manslaughter. All deny sexual charges. The trial continues today.