POL00044673
POL00044673
IN THE HULL_ CROWN COURT
INDICTMENT TO BE LODGED BY 8™ JANUARY 2007
PLEA AND CASE MANAGEMENT HEARING - 5™ JANUARY 2007
THE QUEEN
JANET LOUISE SKINNER
INSTRUCTIONS TO COUNSEL TO SETTLE INDICTMENT
AND ADVISE ON EVIDENCE AND BRIEF FOR THE PROSECUTION
COUNSEL will receive herewith:—
1 Draft Indictment.
2 Copy List of Witnesses and copy Witness Statements.
3 Copy List of Exhibits and copy Exhibits.
4 Copy Form 144
5 Copy Summary of Facts.
6 Copy Report of Investigation Officer.
7 Copy Schedule of Charges.
8 Copy Antecedents.
9 Copy Minute from Officer Diane Matthews 4" December 2006.
10 Copy Minute from Officer Diane Matthews 24" November 2006.
OBSERVATIONS
The Defendant is a former Subpostmistress aged I The charges
concem the theft of monies from the Post Office during the course of employment.
A description of the case against the Defendant is set out in the Summary of Facts to which Counsel is
referred. Further details of the enquiry ate contained in the Investigation Officer's report.
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The Defendant was summoned for the offence set out on the Schedule of Charges and appeared at
Hull Magistrates Court on the 31% October 2006.
On that date no indication was given as to plea. The Magistrates elected trial in the Crown Court.
The case was adjourned until the 12 December 2006 for Committal.
On that date the Defendant was committed for trial under Section 6(2) of the Magistrates Courts Act
1980, to a Plea and Case Management Hearing on .
No request was made for the attendance of witnesses.
It is not known whether the Defendant will plead Guilty or Not Guilty although there is some suggestion
that a plea to false accounting might be forthcoming.
Your Instructing Solicitor has drafted an Indictment based on the schedule of charges.
Counsel is requested to settle the Indictment which is due to be lodged by the 8" January 2007.
Counsel is requested to advise on evidence, and, in particular, whether he considers any additional
evidence is required. Counsel’s attention is drawn to the enclosures at 9 and 10 above and is asked
Whether a theft charge is still appropriate in all the circumstances. Mrs Wisker is a Temporary
Subpostmistress at North Bransholme who took over the Office following Janet Skinner's apprehension.
These enquities have not yet been completed in the case against Mrs Lyell. Whilst clearly the new
information does not fair well with the prosecution case particularly as Mrs Lyell was a witness (now
unused) this does not necessarily mean that Mrs Lyell is the only thief at the Office, Counsel may in
any event feel that the papers do reveal a very significant sophisticated method of false accounting on
behalf of the Defendant in order to conceal a loss for which he raised little concern with her staff.
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Naturally the other information will need to be disclosed to the Defence (although the Officers reports
themselves are confidential).
Will Counsel please appear on behalf of the Prosecution at the Plea and Case Management Hearing of
this matter on the 5® January 2007 and at all future hearings. Counsel will be instructed at the
hearings by a representative of my Agents Messrs Myer Wolff, Solicitors of King William House,
Lowgate, Kingston-upon-Hull, HU1 1YE!
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In the event of a conviction Counsel is requested to seek an order for compensation in a sum to be
notified in due course. Counsel is also asked to seek an order for the Defendant to pay a contribution
towards the costs of the Prosecution in a sum to be notified to Counsel at Court. [These costs should
include costs of investigation which have been notified to the Defence in accordance with the Court of
Appeal decision in Regina v Associated Octel Lid [1997] 1 CR.APP.R.(S) 435]
The Officer in the case has been asked to arrange for Antecedents to be produced, and to supply dates
to avoid for the relevant witnesses.
The prosecution prefers to be represented at all Crown Court hearings so Counsel is requested not to
agree to the excusal of prosecution attendance if this arises, unless criticism or embarrassment might arise
from such a course.
If Counsel requires any further information or would wish to have a Conference in this case could he
please contact his Instructing Solicitor.
Ms J A McFarlane (Principal Laywer)
Mr P Taylor (Legal Executive )
DATED this day of December 2006
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HULL CROWN COURT
Indictment due to be lodged on 8/1/07
Plea and Case Management Hearing 5/1/07
THE QUEEN
JANET LOUISE SKINNER
INSTRUCTIONS TO COUNSEL TO SETTLE
INDICTMENT AND ADVISE ON EVIDENCE
AND BRIEF FOR THE PROSECUTION
Mr Richard Wootfall
Wilberforce Chambers
7 Bishop Lane
KINGSTON-UPON-HULL
HU1 1PA
General Counsel to Royal Mail Group ple
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Legal Services
3° Floor
6a Eccleston Street
Victoria
LONDON SW1W 9LT
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HULL CROWN COURT
THE QUEEN
JANET LOUISE SKINNER
DRAFT INDICTMENT
General Counsel to Royal Mail Group ple
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Legal Services
3° Floor
6a Eccleston Street
Victoria
LONDON SW1W 9LT
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HULL CROWN COURT
THE QUEEN
JANET LOUISE SKINNER
COPY LIST OF WITNESSES AND
COPY WITNESS STATEMENTS
General Counsel to Royal Mail Group ple
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Legal Services
3° Floor
6a Eccleston Street
Victoria
LONDON SW1W 9LT
m:\criminal work folders\mcfarlane juliet - crm\254194 - skinnen254194 b.doc
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HULL CROWN COURT
THE QUEEN
JANET LOUISE SKINNER
COPY LIST OF EXHIBITS
AND COPY EXHIBITS
General Counsel to Royal Mail Group ple
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Legal Services
3° Floor
6a Eccleston Street
Victoria
LONDON SW1W 9LT
m:\criminal work folders\mcfarlane juliet - crm\254194 - skinnen254194 b.doc
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HULL CROWN COURT
THE QUEEN
JANET LOUISE SKINNER
COPY FORM 14A
General Counsel to Royal Mail Group ple
Legal Services
39 Floor
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6a Eccleston Street
Victoria
LONDON SW1W OLT
m:\criminal work folders\mcfarlane juliet - crm\254194 - skinnen254194 b.doc
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HULL CROWN COURT
THE QUEEN
JANET LOUISE SKINNER
COPY SUMMARY OF FACTS
General Counsel to Royal Mail Group ple
Legal Services
39 Floor
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6a Eccleston Street
Victoria
LONDON SW1W OLT
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HULL CROWN COURT
THE QUEEN
JANET LOUISE SKINNER
COPY REPORT OF INVESTIGATION
OFFICER
General Counsel to Royal Mail Group ple
Legal Services
39 Floor
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6a Eccleston Street
Victoria
LONDON SW1W OLT
m:\criminal work folders\mcfarlane juliet - crm\254194 - skinnen254194 b.doc
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HULL CROWN COURT
THE QUEEN
JANET LOUISE SKINNER
COPY SCHEDULE OF CHARGES
General Counsel to Royal Mail Group ple
Legal Services
39 Floor
m:\criminal work folders\mcfarlane juliet - crm\254194 - skinnen254194 b.doc
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6a Eccleston Street
Victoria
LONDON SW1W OLT
m:\criminal work folders\mcfarlane juliet - crm\254194 - skinnen254194 b.doc
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HULL_CROWN COURT
THE QUEEN
JANET LOUISE SKINNER
COPY ANTECEDENTS
General Counsel to Royal Mail Group ple
Legal Services
39 Floor
m:\criminal work folders\mcfarlane juliet - crm\254194 - skinnen254194 b.doc
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6a Eccleston Street
Victoria
LONDON SW1W OLT
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HULL CROWN COURT
THE QUEEN
JANET LOUISE SKINNER
COPY MINUTE FROM THE OFFICER
DIANE MATTHEWS 4" DECEMBER 2006
General Counsel to Royal Mail Group plc
Legal Services
39 Floor
6a Eccleston Street
Victoria
LONDON SW1W OLT
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HULL CROWN COURT
THE QUEEN
JANET LOUISE SKINNER
COPY MINUTE FROM THE OFFICER
DIANE MATTHEWS 24™ NOVEMBER 2006
General Counsel to Royal Mail Group plc
Legal Services
39 Floor
6a Eccleston Street
Victoria
LONDON SW1W OLT
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