John FitzGerald, leading Craig Evans secure acquittal in ‘Panorama Case’

March 26, 2018

John FitzGerald and Craig Evans, instructed by Vymans Solicitors, represented one of 4 members of staff at Medway Secure Training Centre, a facility for child offenders, known as trainees. He was accused of misconduct in public office by assaulting trainees. The Crown’s case was largely based on the footage obtained by an undercover journalist working for the BBC’s Panorama programme. The journalist had a camera hidden in the button of his uniform and obtained footage of the defendant at work. Other evidence came from the trainees themselves. Over 1,800 hours of footage was either served or disclosed. The defendant maintained that his actions were perfectly justified in the circumstances and given the character of those he was dealing with. Neither the journalist nor Panorama had paid much attention to either.

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