IN THE HULL_ CROWN COURT
INDICTMENT TO BE LODGED BY 8™ JANUARY 2007
PLEA AND CASE MANAGEMENT HEARING ~ 5™ JANUARY 2007
THE QUEEN
v
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 14A
5 Copy Summary of Facts.
6 Copy Report of investigation Officer.
7 Copy Schedule of Charges.
8 Copy Antecedents. 70 flow
9 Copy Minute from Officer Diane Matthews December 2008.
10 Copy Minute from Officer Diane Matthews 24” November 2006.
Dales Me wad!
OBSERVATIONS
The Defendant is a former Subpostmistress aged 35 born on the {
The charges
concern 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 are contained in the Investigation Officer's report.
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.
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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 enquiries 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. Naturally the other
information will need to be disclosed to the Defence (although the Officers reports themselves are
confidential)
Will Counsel please appear on behaif 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 (Tel.N
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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 Ltd [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 wna) l= of December 2006
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Indictment due to be lodged on 8/1/07
Plea and Case Management Hearing
5/1/07
THE QUEEN
v
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
Legal Services
3° Floor
6a Eccleston Street
Victoria
LONDON SW1W SLT
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