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MURRAY v. THE UNITED KINGDOM

Doc ref: 22384/93 • ECHR ID: 001-1980

Document date: October 10, 1994

  • Inbound citations: 0
  • Cited paragraphs: 0
  • Outbound citations: 0

MURRAY v. THE UNITED KINGDOM

Doc ref: 22384/93 • ECHR ID: 001-1980

Document date: October 10, 1994

Cited paragraphs only



                      AS TO THE ADMISSIBILITY OF

                      Application No. 22384/93

                      by Kevin MURRAY

                      against the United Kingdom

      The European Commission of Human Rights sitting in private on

10 October 1994, the following members being present:

           MM.   C.A. NØRGAARD, President

                 S. TRECHSEL

                 A. WEITZEL

                 F. ERMACORA

                 E. BUSUTTIL

                 G. JÖRUNDSSON

                 A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK

                 J.-C. SOYER

                 H.G. SCHERMERS

                 H. DANELIUS

           Mrs.  G.H. THUNE

           MM.   F. MARTINEZ

                 C.L. ROZAKIS

           Mrs.  J. LIDDY

           MM.   L. LOUCAIDES

                 J.-C. GEUS

                 M.P. PELLONPÄÄ

                 G.B. REFFI

                 M.A. NOWICKI

                 I. CABRAL BARRETO

                 B. CONFORTI

                 N. BRATZA

                 I. BÉKÉS

                 J. MUCHA

                 E. KONSTANTINOV

                 D. SVÁBY

                 G. RESS

           Mr.   H.C. KRÜGER, Secretary to the Commission

      Having regard to Article 25 of the Convention for the Protection

of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;

      Having regard to the application introduced on 27 April 1993 by

K.S.M. against the United Kingdom and registered on 15 July 1993 under

file No. 22384/93;

      Having regard to:

-     reports provided for in Rule 47 of the Rules of Procedure of the

      Commission;

-     the observations submitted by the respondent Government on 2

      March 1994

      Having deliberated;

      Decides as follows:

THE FACTS

      The applicant is a British citizen born in 1970 and presently

detained in the Maze Prison, Northern Ireland.  He is represented by

Messrs. John Fahy & Company, a firm of solicitors practising in

Strabane, County Tyrone.

      The facts as submitted by the parties, and which may be deduced

from documents lodged with the application, may be summarised as

follows.

      On 13 March 1989, at 07.30, W.A., a part-time soldier in the

Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), was injured after being shot four times

by two gunmen wearing balaclava helmets over their faces.

      Shortly after that same day, the police went to the applicant's

house and asked him to account for his movements since the previous

evening. The applicant stated that he had spent the previous night at

a friend's house and that he had returned to his own house at 09.00

hours that day. When questioned about certain items of clothing, in

particular a pair of jeans which had mud on them, the applicant

explained that he had worn them when out hunting.

      At 11.28 hours,  the applicant was arrested under section 12 of

the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary  Provisions) Act 1984 in

connection with the shooting of W.A..

      The applicant was taken to Castlereagh Police Office, where on

arrival he requested to see a solicitor. At 13.30 hours, a Detective

Superintendent authorised a delay in access to a solicitor for 48

hours, pursuant to section 15 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency

Provisions) Act 1987.

      The applicant was cautioned, pursuant to Article 3 of the

Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, that a failure to

mention any fact that he later relied on in his defence in court might

be treated as supporting the case against him. He was also cautioned,

pursuant to Article 5 of the Order, in respect of adverse inferences

which might be drawn from any failure to account for items of clothing

in his possession on which were marks or substances attributable to

participation in the commission of an offence, and also in respect of

fibres found in his hair from a balaclava helmet allegedly used by one

of the gunmen. The applicant remained silent.

      The applicant saw his solicitor on 15 March 1989 at 11.26 hours.

He was advised to remain silent.

      On 18 March 1989, the applicant was charged with attempted murder

and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He was

subsequently charged with the wounding of W.A. and possession of a

firearm for no lawful object.

      On 23 March 1989, the applicant's application to be released on

bail was refused by the judge on the grounds of the serious nature of

the charges and the serious risk of the applicant not turning up for

trial.

      Between 13 and 22 March 1989, 38 items were delivered by the

police for examination by the Northern Ireland Forensic Science

Laboratory ("NIFSL"). On 5 April and 14 June 1989, further exhibits

were delivered to the NIFSL.

      The forensic report on cartridge residue was issued on 18 May

1989, the report on tyre mark comparisons on 31 October 1989, and the

report on fibre elements on 29 November 1989.

      On 8 August 1989, the police file was received at the office of

the Director of Public Prosecutions.

      The decision to prosecute was taken late November/early December

and the file was forwarded to the case preparation section for

committal proceedings to be arranged.

      The direction to prosecute was signed but held back pending the

Attorney General's decision whether to consent to prosecution against

the applicant's co-accused, L., for the offence of allowing property

to be used for terrorism (ie. the Vauxhall car of L.' s father which

L. had borrowed on 13 March 1990 and which the police alleged to have

been the car used by the two gunmen).

      The Attorney General gave consent for L.'s prosecution on 11

January 1990. On 24 January 1990, the direction to prosecute the

applicant and L. was sent to the Chief Constable.

      The committal for trial was fixed for 21 February 1990 but was

adjourned when L., who was on bail, absconded. The committal papers had

to be edited for the applicant to be charged alone.

      On 28 March 1990, the applicant was committed for trial. The bill

of indictment was received at the Crown Court office on 2 May 1990. He

was arraigned on 13 June 1990 and because of the serious nature of the

charges his case was scheduled for hearing before a High court judge.

      The applicant's case was listed for hearing initially on 20

November 1990 but subject twice to short postponements when the trial

before overran.

      The applicant was tried before a judge sitting without a jury

from 26 to 28 November 1990.

      At his trial, the applicant on the advice of his legal advisers

did not give evidence.

      The prosecution case was founded on circumstantial evidence of

a forensic nature linking the applicant with the Vauxhall car allegedly

used by the gunmen (a thumb print of the applicant on the interior rear

view mirror), and including residue of discharge from a firearm on a

pair of jeans owned by the applicant and fibres in his hair consistent

with those from a balaclava helmet allegedly used by one of the gunmen.

The applicant's father gave evidence that he and his son had been

shooting at rabbits several days before the shooting of the UDR

soldier. P. gave evidence that the night before the shooting the

applicant had sat and talked with him in the Vauxhall car which L. had

borrowed from his father. Another witness, I., stated that he had seen

the applicant driving the Vauxhall car that evening in the company of

L. It was also asserted in the applicant's defence that the fibres in

his hair could have come from similar material in his anorak rather

than the balaclava.

      On 18 January 1991, the applicant was found guilty of the

offences of attempted murder of W.A. and possession of a firearm with

intent to endanger life. He was sentenced to a total of eighteen years'

imprisonment.

      The trial judge in convicting the applicant relied upon Article

4 of the Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, pursuant to

which at the end of the prosecution case he had called upon the

applicant to give evidence in his own defence in default of which

adverse inferences could be drawn. He also drew inferences under

Article 3 of the Order from the applicant's silence during questioning

by the police, but declined to draw inferences under Article 5.

      The trial judge stated in regard to Article 3 of the Order and

the applicant's failure to respond to questions by the police:

      "By this silence, can it be said that he failed to mention

      facts relied upon in his defence at the trial? I do not

      forget that before he was cautioned under Article 3 at

      Castlereagh he gave a general account of his  movements to

      Detective Constable Bell and explained the condition of his

      jeans on the ground that he had been out "hunting" two days

      before. What he omitted to do in reply to the caution under

      Article 3 was to repeat these matters of his defence and to

      fail to answer questions relative to their detail. He

      omitted to mention at all and this to me is significant

      that he had driven the Vauxhall car on the Saturday night

      before the crime and that he had met up with

      L.> in the early hours of the 13th. I consider that the

      "could reasonably have been expected" to have

      mentioned these matters at Castlereagh. The "hunting" story

      could have been investigated by the police. Its forensic

      significance would have been considered by the firearms

      expert. The potentially damning evidence of the

      fingerprint, if left unexplained, found on the car mirror

      was brought home to the accused at Castlereagh in clear

      language as was the evidence linking the car to the scene

      of the crime. The incriminating nature of fingerprint

      evidence must be well-known to any member of the public. I

      would have expected a suspect when faced with this, if he

      had an innocent alternative to give, to have given it.

      I do not, however, in all the circumstances draw the

      strongest adverse inference that one may be entitled to

      draw in other cases under Article 3. My reason is that he

      did disclose in general terms some of the facts relied on

      in his defence. But I do find that his failure to mention

      the particular matters that he did, many of which were of

      the greatest importance in his defence, reduces the

      credibility of his defence and increases the weight of the

      prosecution case..."

      In relation to the applicant's silence in court and the

application of Article 4 of the Order, the trial judge commented:

      "In the instant case it seems to be that what the prosecution has

      proved in evidence calls for evidence from the accused in the

      witness box. No reasons have been advanced for his refusal to

      give evidence. Nor are any reasons apparent to the court for

      withholding his account on oath. Indeed it seems to me remarkable

      he has not given evidence. It is not the function of the court

      to conjure up reasons for his silence. He has been told by the

      court in plain language what the consequences of his failure may

      be and he has no doubt been advised by his experienced counsel

      to the same effect. It is only commonsense, in the circumstances,

      to infer as proper inference that he is not prepared to assert

      his innocence on oath because that is not the case. The inference

      which I draw from his failure to give evidence under Article 4

      is stronger and much more to his detriment than that drawn by me

      under Article 3."

      The applicant appealed against his conviction, alleging inter

alia that the judge had erred in applying Article 4 of the 1988 Order

in his case. The appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in

Northern Ireland on 25 October 1991.  Lord Chief Justice Hutton, giving

the judgment of the court, rejected the argument by the applicant's

counsel that the approach of the trial judge had the effect of

reversing the burden of proof. It found that the trial judge had

correctly drawn an inference from the applicant's failure to give

evidence:

      "The right of the court under Article 4 to draw such

      inferences as appear proper arises once the Crown has

      established a prima facie case and does not require that

      the Crown case constituted by the evidence should be `on

      the brink' of proving guilt or should create a situation

      which at common law would be regarded as a `confession and

      avoidance' situation. But whether or not the court will

      draw inferences will depend upon the circumstances of the

      particular case and, if inferences are drawn, the strength

      of those inferences will also depend upon the particular

      circumstances of the case.

      There may be cases where, despite the refusal of the

      accused to give evidence when called upon by the court to

      do so pursuant to Article 4, the court may think it

      inappropriate to draw any inferences against him. Moreover,

      before convicting the court, having regard to the evidence

      adduced by the Crown and to the inferences (if any) which

      it draws under Article 4, must always be satisfied that the

      Crown has discharged the burden of proving that the accused

      is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Article 4 does not

      alter the fundamental principle that the burden rests on

      the Crown to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

      The refusal of the accused to give evidence on his own

      behalf does not in itself indicate guilt. Under Article 4

      it would be improper for the court to draw the bare

      inference that because the accused refused to give evidence

      in his own defence he was therefore guilty. But where

      commonsense permits it, it is proper in an appropriate case

      for the court to draw the inference from the refusal of the

      accused to give evidence that there is no reasonable

      possibility of an innocent explanation to rebut the prima

      facie case established by the evidence adduced by the

      Crown, and for the drawing of this inference to lead on to

      the conclusion, after all the evidence in the case has been

      considered, that the accused is guilty...

      We consider that in this case the trial judge was entitled

      to draw the inference from the refusal of the appellant to

      give evidence in his own defence that there was no

      reasonable possibility of an innocent explanation which he

      could put forward to rebut the inference which could be

      drawn from the evidence adduced by the Crown, and that

      accordingly the inference which the Crown submitted should

      be drawn from that evidence, namely that the appellant was

      one of the gunmen who used the Vauxhall car and who shot

      and wounded ... was correct and that therefore the

      appellant was guilty...".

      While the Court of Appeal found that the trial judge had erred

in drawing an inference under Article 3 of the Order from the failure

to offer an explanation for the fingerprint (ie. the fingerprint had

not been identified as that of the applicant until after his interviews

with the police), it found that this error did not invalidate his

general findings. It concluded that the convictions were not rendered

thereby unsafe or unsatisfactory.

      The applicant was granted leave to appeal to the  House of Lords.

      In its judgment of 29 October 1992, the House of Lords rejected

the applicant's appeal, agreeing with the judgment of the Court of

Appeal.

      Lord Slynn in the leading judgment stated:

      "The accused cannot be compelled to give evidence but he

      must risk the consequences if he does not do so. Those

      consequences are not simply, as the appellant contends,

      that specific inferences may be drawn from specific facts.

      They include in a proper case the drawing of an inference

      that the accused is guilty of the events with which he is

      charged.

      This does not mean that the court can conclude simply

      because the accused does not give evidence that he is

      guilty. In the first place the prosecutor must establish a

      prima facie case - a case for him to answer. In the second

      place in determining whether the accused is guilty the

      judge or jury can draw only `such inferences from the

      refusal as appear proper'.  As Lord Diplock said in Haw Tua

      Tau v. Public Prosecutor at p. 153B:

           `What inferences are proper to be drawn from an

           accused's refusal to give evidence depend upon

           the circumstances of the particular case, and is

           a question to be decided by applying ordinary

           commonsense.'

      There must thus be some basis derived from the

      circumstances which justify the inference.

      If there is no prima facie case shown by the prosecution

      there is no case to answer. Equally if parts of the

      prosecution had so little evidential value that they called

      for no answer, a failure to deal with those specific

      matters cannot justify an inference of guilt.

      On the other hand if aspects of the evidence taken alone or

      in combination with other facts clearly call for an

      explanation which the accused ought to be in a position to

      give, if an explanation exists, then a failure to give any

      explanation may as a matter of commonsense allow the

      drawing of an inference that there is no explanation and

      that the accused is guilty...

      In the present case if the only evidence relied on was that

      relating to the fibres in the hair, on the clothing and in

      the car, it might well not be enough to justify an

      inference that the accused was guilty beyond a reasonable

      doubt. The cartridge residue on the jeans, the thumb print

      on the mirror and the mud on the trousers, the evidence

      that he was not at home during the night clearly taken in

      combination call for an explanation if there was one. The

      judge was moreover entitled to have regard to the

      cumulative effect of all the circumstantial evidence in

      deciding whether a failure to give evidence justified an

      inference of guilt.

      In my opinion the evidence adduced by the prosecution

      established a clear prima facie case and the trial judge

      was entitled in all the circumstances of the case, and as

      a matter of commonsense, to infer that there was no

      innocent explanation  to the prima facie case and that the

      accused was guilty... Contrary to the

      contention, he quite plainly did not proceed on the basis

      that simply because the accused did not give evidence he

      was therefore guilty...".

Relevant domestic law and practice

      Provisions governing inferences which may be drawn from an

      accused's silence

      Article 3 of the Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1988

(hereafter referred to as the Order) provides as relevant:

      "Circumstances in which inferences may be drawn from accused's

      failure to mention particular facts when questioned, charged,

      etc.

      3.   (1) Where, in any proceedings against a person for an

offence, evidence is given that the accused

      (a)  at any time before he was charged with the

           offence, on being questioned by a constable

           trying to discover whether or by whom the

           offence has been committed, failed to mention

           any fact relied on in his defence in those

           proceedings; or

      (b)  on being charged with the offence or officially

           informed that he might be prosecuted for it,

           failed to mention any such fact,

      being a fact which in the circumstances existing at the

      time the accused could reasonably have been expected to

      mention when so questioned, charged or informed, as the

      case may be, paragraph (2) applies.

      (2) Where this paragraph applies:

           (a) the court, in determining whether to commit

           the accused for trial or whether there is a case

           to answer,

           (b) a judge, in deciding whether to grant an

           application made by the accused under Article 5

           of the Criminal Justice (Serious Fraud)

           (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 (application for

           dismissal of charge where a case of fraud has

           been transferred from a magistrates' court to

           the Crown Court under Article 3 of that Order),

           and

           (c) the court or jury, in determining whether

           the accused is guilty of the offence charged,

           may

                 (i) draw such inferences from the failure

                 as appear proper;

                 (ii) on the basis of such inferences treat the

                 failure as, or as capable of amounting to,

                 corroboration of any evidence given against the

                 accused in relation to which the failure is

                 material.

      (3) Subject to any directions by the court, evidence tending to

      establish the failure may be given before or after evidence

      tending to establish the fact which the accused is alleged to

      have failed to mention."

      Article 4 of the Order provides as relevant:

      "Accused to be called upon to give evidence at trial

      4.   (1) At the trial of any person (other than a child) for an

      offence paragraphs (2) to (7) apply unless

           (a) the accused's guilt is not in issue, or

           (b) it appears to the court that the physical or

           mental condition of the accused makes it undesirable

           for him to be called upon to give evidence;

      but paragraph (2) does not apply if, before any evidence is

      called for the defence, the accused or counsel or a solicitor

      representing him informs the court that the accused will give

      evidence.

      (2) Before any evidence is called for the defence, the court

           (a) shall tell the accused that he will be

           called upon by the court to give evidence in his

           own defence, and

           (b) shall tell him in ordinary language what the

           effect of this Article will be if

                 (i) when so called upon, he refuses

                 to be sworn;

                 (ii) having been sworn, without good

                 cause he refuses to answer any

                 question;

      and thereupon the court shall call upon the accused to give

      evidence.

      (3) If the accused

           (a) after being called upon by the court to give

           evidence in pursuance of this Article, or after

           he or counsel or a solicitor representing him

           has informed the court that he will give

           evidence, refuses to be sworn, or

           (b) having been sworn, without good cause

           refuses to answer any question, paragraph (4)

           applies.

      (4) The court or jury, in determining whether the accused is

      guilty of the offence charged, may

           (a) draw such inferences from the refusal as

           appear proper;

           (b) on the basis of such inferences, treat the

           refusal as, or as capable of amounting to,

           corroboration of any evidence given against the

           accused in relation to which the refusal is

           material."

      Provisions governing access to a solicitor

      Section 15 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act

1987 provides as relevant:

      "15. Right of access to legal advice

      (1) A person who is detained under the terrorism provisions and

      is being held in police custody shall be entitled, if he so

      requests, to consult a solicitor privately...

      (4) If a person makes such a request, he must be permitted to

      consult a solicitor as soon as is practicable except to the

      extent that any delay is permitted by this section...

      (8) An officer may only authorise a delay in complying with a

      request under subsection (1) where he has reasonable grounds for

      believing that the exercise of the right conferred by that

      subsection at the time when the detained person desires to

      exercise it -

           ...

           (d) will lead to interference with the gathering of

           information about the commission, preparation or

           instigation of acts of terrorism; or

           (e) by alerting any person, will make it more difficult -

                 i. to prevent an act of terrorism, or

                 ii. to secure the apprehension, prosecution or

                 conviction of any person in connection with the

                 commission, preparation or instigation of an act of

                 terrorism."

      The delay must be authorised by a police officer of at least the

rank of superintendent (sub-section (5)(a)), and the detained person

must be told the reason for the delay (subsection (7)). The maximum

delay is 48 hours.

COMPLAINTS

      The applicant complains of the period of detention up to the date

of the original judgment, invoking Article 5 para. 3 of the Convention.

      The applicant contends that the application of Article 4 of the

Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 violated his right to

a fair trial, as guaranteed by Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention, and

that it effectively removed the presumption of innocence, contrary to

Article 6 para. 2 of the Convention.

      The applicant submits that the application of Article 3 of the

1988 Order also abrogated his right to remain silent and violated

Article 6 para. 3(b) of the Convention.

      Further, the applicant contends that the refusal to allow him

access to a solicitor was in breach of Article 5 para. 3 of the

Convention.

      Finally, he invokes Articles 13 and 14 of the Convention.

PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION

      The application was introduced on 27 April 1993 and registered

on 15 July 1993.

      On 11 October 1993, the Commission decided to communicate the

application to the Government and to ask for written observations on

the admissibility and merits of the case.

      The Government's observations were submitted on 2 March 1994,

after two extensions in the time-limit fixed for this purpose. The

applicant was invited to submit written observations in reply by 28

April 1994. None were produced.

THE LAW

1.    The applicant has complained of the length of his detention on

remand. He invokes Article 5 para. 3 (Art. 5-3) of the Convention,

which provides:

      "Everyone arrested or detained in accordance with the provisions

      of paragraph 1 (c) of this Article shall be brought promptly

      before a judge or other officer authorised by law to exercise

      judicial power and shall be entitled to trial within a reasonable

      time or to release pending trial.  Release may be conditioned by

      guarantees to appear for trial."

      The period to be considered under the above provision runs from

the applicant's arrest on 13 March 1989 to the date on which the first

instance court determined the charges against him, ie. in this case on

18 January 1991 - an overall period of 22 months and five days.

      The Commission notes that the applicant was refused release on

bail on the ground of the serious risk that he would abscond. The

Commission recalls that the applicant's co-accused did in fact abscond

when released before trial and it finds that the authorities had

reasonable grounds to fear the applicant, facing more serious charges

than his co-accused, might do the same.

      The case-law of the Convention organs indicates that where

relevant and sufficient grounds exist for detention pending trial, it

must be ascertained that the competent domestic authorities displayed

"special diligence" in the conduct of the proceedings (eg. Eur. Court

H.R., Tomasi judgment of 27 August 1992, Series A no. 241, p. 35,

para. 84).

      As regards the conduct of the proceedings, the Commission recalls

that the case rested primarily on the forensic evidence which was

dispatched to a laboratory for analysis and report. While the bulk of

the material had been sent to the laboratory by 22 March 1989,

additional exhibits were delivered on 5 April and 14 June 1989, and the

reports of the NIFSL were issued on 18 May, 31 October and 29 November

1989.      The Commission does not find that the time spent on producing the

forensic reports, which necessarily required careful and thorough

preparation, was of such length as to disclose a lack of expedition.

The time which elapsed between committal and trial also, in the

Commission's view, does not disclose undue delay.

      There was also a lapse of time between the committal of the

applicant for trial on 28 March 1990 and the beginning of his trial on

26 November 1990. However, part of this time was required for the

filing of the bill of indictment and the arraignment of the applicant

before the court. In any event, the Commission cannot find that the

delay which may have occurred at that stage was sufficiently important

to warrant a finding of a violation of Article 5 para. 3 (Art. 5-3) of

the Convention.

      Consequently, the Commission finds that the applicant's detention

on remand did not exceed a "reasonable time" within the meaning of

Article 5 para. 3 (Art. 5-3) of the Convention.

      It follows that this part of the application must be rejected as

manifestly ill-founded within the meaning of Article 27 para. 2

(Art. 27-2) of the Convention.

2.    The applicant also complains that he was deprived of the right

to silence and the presumption of innocence in the criminal proceedings

brought against him as a result of the operation of the provisions of

the Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, which permitted

a judge, sitting without a jury, to draw inferences from his failure

to answer police questions and from his failure to give evidence in his

own defence during the trial. He further complains that he was deprived

of access to his solicitor in the first 48 hours of his detention. The

applicant invokes Article 6 paras. 1, 2 and 3 (b), Article 13 and

Article 14 (Art. 6-1, 6-2, 6-3-b, 13, 14) of the Convention. These

provide as relevant:

      Article 6 para. 1 (Art. 6-1) of the Convention:

      "In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of

      any criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair

      and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and

      impartial tribunal established by law...".

      Article 6 para. 2 (Art. 6-2) of the Convention:

      "Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed

      innocent until proved guilty according to law."

      Article 6 para. 3 (b) (Art. 6-3-b) of the Convention:

      "Everyone charged with a criminal offence has the following

      minimum rights:

           ...

           b. to have adequate time and facilities for the

           preparation of his defence;".

      Article 13 (Art. 13) of the Convention:

      "Everyone whose rights and freedoms as set forth in this

      Convention are violated shall have an effective remedy before a

      national authority notwithstanding that the violation has been

      committed by persons acting in an official capacity."

      Article 14 (Art. 14) of the Convention:

      "The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this

      Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground

      such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other

      opinion, national or social origin, association with a national

      minority, property, birth or other status."

      The Government submit, inter alia, that the provisions of the

1988 Order did not operate to deprive the applicant either of a fair

hearing, contrary to Article 6 para. 1 (Art. 6-1) of the Convention,

or of the presumption of innocence contrary Article 6 para. 2

(Art. 6-2) . They refer to the safeguards provided in the Order: no

inference may be drawn unless the suspect/accused has been warned in

advance of the possible effect; before any inference is drawn, the

prosecution must have established a prima facie case against the

accused; the judge has a discretion whether to draw an inference and

is limited to drawing only such inferences as may be proper. The Order

merely allows the trier of fact to draw such inferences as common sense

dictates. In the present case, there was a formidable case against the

applicant which called for evidence from the applicant if there was an

innocent explanation for his conduct. The burden of proof remained

throughout on the prosecution.

      As regards the denial of access by the applicant to his solicitor

for 48 hours, the Government contend that this delay did not

disadvantage the applicant in the conduct of his defence and therefore

discloses no violation of Article 6 (Art. 6) of the Convention.

      The Commission has taken cognizance of the submissions of the

parties. It notes similar issues  regarding the right to silence and

presumption of innocence are at present under examination by the

European Court of Human Rights in the case of John Murray v. the United

Kingdom. It considers that, in the circumstances, it is not appropriate

at the present time to decide on the admissibility of this part of the

application.

      For these reasons, the Commission by a majority

      DECLARES INADMISSIBLE the applicant's complaint concerning the

      length of his detention on remand;

      ADJOURNS the examination of the remainder of the application.

Secretary to the Commission            President of the Commission

      (H.C. KRÜGER)                         (C.A. NØRGAARD)

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