Clause 63 - Application to Court of Appeal
Criminal Justice Bill
4:50 pm
Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome, Liberal Democrat)
I shall be extraordinarily brief. I am persuaded by the power of the argument of the hon. Member for Beaconsfield. It does not seem sensible to use a word that has a clear tone of finality, in the sense of quashing, instead of a word that means suspension, which is the more accurate reflection of what happens, while there is, presumably, still an assumption of innocence. I hope that the Minister will give an affirmative reply to the amendment or suggest an alternative wording that more accurately describes the circumstances of a person who has been acquitted during the period between the implementation of the procedure and any new trial.