It is of course right that Stacey Hyde is able to speak about her experience of the criminal justice system, but your article ‘I never considered myself a murderer’ (12 June) fails to address key points. In its judgment quashing the original murder conviction, the court of appeal ordered a retrial, saying “a life has been taken and it is not for this court in the circumstances of this case to decide whether that should be visited with a verdict of murder or manslaughter”. The CPS agreed with that view, and put the case before a jury to decide.
A key piece of evidence, absent from your article, was the fact that Ms Hyde left the scene of the original incident only to return armed with the kitchen knife then used in the stabbing. We said this indicated an intent to kill or cause grievous harm rather than a momentary loss of control or act of self-defence against an immediate threat, an issue that we thought appropriate for a jury to consider. We respect the jury’s verdict. I do not, however, accept that your reporting has shown the necessary balance to properly inform the public.
Barry Hughes
Chief crown prosecutor, Crown Prosecution Service South West @cpsuk
