Secret Trial in English Courts

An entirely secret trial could be heard in an English court for the first time. The Crown Prosecution Service wants a terrorism trial to go on behind closed doors on the grounds of national security. Those on trial would be referred to as AB and CD.

Criminal cases are usually heard in open courts, with the public and media allowed to attend. However, defendants AB and CD face allegations of preparing terrorist acts and possessing bomb-making instructions and Richard Whittam QC, for the CPS said that, “There is a justification for defendants to be anonymous and there is jurisdiction for the court to sit in private.”

Media organisations are worried that a secret trial could threaten the principle of open and fair justice. A decision on whether the trial will be carried out in complete secrecy will be reached later this week.