A police officer who lied about knowing a juror in a murder trial, leading to three convictions being quashed and a retrial, has had two counts of gross misconduct …
A police officer who lied about knowing a juror in a murder trial, leading to three convictions being quashed and a retrial, has had two counts of gross misconduct …
A police officer who lied about knowing a juror in a murder trial, leading to three convictions being quashed and a retrial, has had two counts of gross misconduct against her proved.
South Wales Police Det Con Rebecca Bryant was a liaison officer to the family of Lynford Brewster, who was murdered in Cardiff in 2016.
Her son’s girlfriend was a juror in the original trial but three men have since been found guilty after a retrial.
She could be now sacked from the force.
A disciplinary panel found her failure to tell Cardiff Crown Court of the link with Lauren Jones during the original trial in 2016 was a “continuing breach” of professional behaviour.
Panel chairman, Peter Griffiths QC said: “It did not comprise of a one-off error of judgement. It was a continuing breach spanning from the end of November to around the 20 December 2016.”
The hearing was told Det Con Bryant, who has served with the South Wales force since 1998, initially lied to a senior officer when confronted with the truth.
The panel found that amounted to gross misconduct and Mr Griffiths said “it was a deliberate lie on her part to a senior officer who was investigating a matter of the utmost importance”.
She admitted knowing Miss Jones the next day.
On a third allegation, that Ms Bryant had advised the juror to withhold information from the court in order to attend a hair appointment, she admitted an allegation of dishonesty.
But the panel did not find those actions amounted to gross misconduct.
“It was something a police officer should never have suggested… but in the panel’s view it fell short of amounting to outright dishonesty,” Mr Griffiths added.
The misconduct hearing heard evidence from a clinical psychologist who said there was a 90% chance Ms Bryant had been suffering with post traumatic symptoms at the time, and there was a 99% likelihood this would have influenced her judgement.
She admitted misconduct on all three allegations, but denied gross misconduct.
After finding two of the allegations proven, the panel must now decide what sanctions Ms Bryant will face, which could include dismissal from the force.
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A police officer who did not reveal she knew a murder trial juror, leading to three convictions being quashed, was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, …
A police officer who did not reveal she knew a murder trial juror, leading to three convictions being quashed, was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, a misconduct case has heard.
Det Con Rebecca Bryant was a liaison officer to the family of Lynford Brewster, who was murdered in Cardiff in 2016.
Her son’s girlfriend was a juror in the original trial that year.
Three men have since been found guilty of killing him at a re-trial in March.
Ms Bryant is accused of gross misconduct by failing to notify Cardiff Crown Court of her link to Lauren Jones, and of lying to police when later questioned about it.
She has admitted an allegation of dishonesty in relation to having told Ms Jones to inform the court that she could not attend a day of the trial because of a hair appointment, advising her not to admit the precise reason.
She has also admitted misconduct on all three allegations, but denies gross misconduct.
Evidence submitted to the hearing by a clinical psychologist said there was a “90%” chance Ms Bryant had been suffering with post traumatic symptoms at the time, and there was a “99%” likelihood this would have influenced her judgement.
Acting on behalf of Ms Bryant, Jonathan Rees QC said that she had been working on another high profile murder case at that time, and had spent considerable time reviewing graphic footage of the killing.
This, he said, had triggered Ms Bryant’s mental health difficulties and had impaired her ability to make rational decisions.
The court heard extracts from an interview with Ms Bryant after admitting her dishonesty, where she said she was “embarrassed” and felt she had “let everyone down”.
“I’ve never tried to appropriate blame to anyone other than myself,” she had said.
“I am acutely aware of the gravity of my mistake. I can promise it will never happen again. I fully understand the impact on South Wales Police and the family of Lynford Brewster.”
But presenting officer Jeremy Jones said that did not begin to explain her actions in the case.
He argued that because Ms Bryant had specifically told Ms Jones not to tell the court about their relationship, that showed she recognised there could be consequences from her actions.
Ms Bryant, giving evidence through a statement, said she was sorry to Mr Brewster’s family and friends for what she had put them through.
She also said she was thankful her actions had not resulted in his killers evading justice.
If the allegations against her are proven, she faces being dismissed from the force.
A little boy who died on holiday with his family in Greece has been named.
Theo Treharne-Jones is thought to have died at the Atlantica Holiday Village resort on the Greek island of Kos on Saturday.
The five-year-old from Merthyr Tydfil attended Greenfield School in Pentrebach.
Merthyr Tydfil Council leader Kevin O’Neill said his “thoughts and prayers” are with Theo’s family and siblings who also attend schools in Merthyr.
Theo went to school in Merthyr Tydfil (Image: First Choice)
“It is with great sadness that the local authority has heard of the death of one of its young pupils – Theo Treharne-Jones – whilst on holiday on holiday with his family on Kos,” councillor O’Neill said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this tragic time.
“The local authority will be supporting the staff at Theo’s school and his fellow pupils as well as supporting the schools which his siblings attend in the county borough.”
Wayne Murphy, head teacher of Greenfield School said: “I am aware of these tragic events and the loss of this lovely little boy, who brought laughter and happiness to everyone.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the family and friends at this tragic time.”
Greenfield Special School, Merthyr Tydfil
The Atlantica Holiday Village resort, where Theo Treharne-Jones is understood to have been staying (Image: First Choice)
Holiday operator Tui yesterday confirmed the family had been staying at the Atlantica Holiday Village in Kos, Greece.
A spokeswoman said a team at the resort were supporting the family and the incident is under investigation.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office official said yesterday: “We are supporting the family of a British child who died in Kos, Greece, and our staff are in touch with the local authorities.”