CONVICTED murderer George Beattie, who was the subject of a BBC Rough
Justice programme proclaiming his innocence, is back in prison six years
after being released on licence.
Beattie's lawyer, Mr Joe Beltrami, yesterday expressed his grave
concern about the secrecy of the latest proceedings against his client,
and said they ''smacked of injustice.''
The parole board met last week to consider Beattie's case, and he has
now been told that he will not be eligible for parole until December.
Even if he is successful, he is likely to be in prison until at least
next April.
Beattie's recall to prison in April is understood to have followed an
incident in which he is alleged to have kicked his social worker on the
leg, an allegation which Beattie denies.
Under the rules which govern parole board procedure, Beattie was not
allowed legal representation at the hearing, nor was he allowed to
appear to put his case.
Beattie, then 19, was convicted by a majority verdict at the High
Court in Glasgow in 1973 of the murder of Margaret McLaughlin.
Ten years later, Rough Justice produced new evidence which claimed
that the murder took place at a time for which Beattie was said to have
a cast-iron alibi.
And in today's law page, Peter Hill, producer of Rough Justice, argues
that vital evidence was withheld from the court.
Mr Hill says: ''Beattie has been back in the community for six years
and has shown himself to be an honest, hard-working member of society.
It is time for justice to be done. Beattie should not be in jail.''
Mr Beltrami said he understood that trouble arose between Beattie and
his social worker, Mr Ron Hutchison, after Mr Hutchison had been in
touch with Beattie's employers. Beattie was working as a bus driver.
Beattie went to see Mr Hutchison and, in the course of an argument,
allegedly kicked the social worker on the knee. Beattie was then
recalled to prison pending the parole board hearing last week.
A ''lifer'' out on licence can be recalled to prison at any time if
there is a complaint about his behaviour.
The parole board looks at written reports in each case before making a
recommendation. It considers whether the person involved has breached
the conditions of his licence and is a threat to the community.
The prisoner is entitled to an interview with a member of the board's
local review committee, and he can also make written submissions to the
board. The Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Bill, currently
going through Parliament, would provide the right to an interview with a
member of the parole board.
But the Bill does not provide any specific right for legal
representation to prepare a case, nor does it provide any right to
present a case to the board in person. Some lawyers see the procedure as
a denial of natural justice.
Mr Beltrami said: ''It seems to me that Beattie is being denied his
rights as a citizen. We were prepared to appear for him in this case
without a fee as a matter of principle, but that was not allowed.
''We would have been happier if this allegation had been reported to
the police and gone to the district court, where Beattie would at least
have been protected by the rules of evidence, such as the need for
corroboration.
''As far as I know, he hasn't even seen a copy of the report by the
social worker, and it is the secrecy of the whole procedure which
concerns me. I really think the system must be brought into the
twentieth century. At the moment it's reminiscent of the Star Chamber.''
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