TWO angry couples today demanded a full investigation after a case collapsed at Bolton Crown Court because photographs went missing.
Five brothers who work at an Indian Restaurant in Horwich were all cleared of violence charges at Bolton Crown court yesterday.
But today Janet Cooper, the angry wife of one of the alleged victims, said: "I can't believe the case hasn't been able to go ahead. First of all I can't believe the photos could be so vital and second, we would like an explanation of where they've gone. "The court system is frightening. The way it was explained to me, even if my Shaun was dead and it was a murder case it would still have collapsed on the same technical problem."
The case was brought after police investigated allegations of a violent disturbance at the Sajaan Indian Restaurant, Winter Hey Lane, Horwich on Friday, April 5.
Mohboob Alom, 23 and his brothers Tufaul, 23; Sunar, 17; Kubbar, 20; and Mamahin, 27; all of View Street, Daubhill, Bolton, were contesting charges of violent disorder and of causing actual bodily harm to Raymond Clarke and Shaun Cooper.
John O'Shea, prosecuting, said photographs which defence barristers wished to be presented in the trial had gone missing. Mr O'Shea said the loss of the photographs, which were an essential part of the defence case, had caused the Crown Prosecution Service to decide to offer no evidence and he asked that 'Not Guilty' verdicts should be returneds.
Defence counsel, Martin Walsh, told Judge John Phipps that if the case had proceeded the complainants' version of events would have been contested by the defence.
The brothers all agreed to be bound over to keep the peace for 12 months in the sum of £200 each.
Judge Phipps ordered that a number of implements including a golf club and a hockey stick which were to have been presented as exhibits should be forfeited.
CPS spokesman Mike McNeil said today: "I am already waiting for a detailed report from prosecuting counsel. If anyone else wants to make representations about the case I will study those as well."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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