London, UK – Three men who were initially cleared of a murder charge due to an error by the jury forewoman have failed in their attempt to challenge their continued detention in prison. Paul and Matthew Yusuff, along with their friend Moussa Traore, were unanimously acquitted by the jury in January for their alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of Adrian Keise outside Waterloo station. However, the verdict was quickly questioned when it was revealed that not all jurors had agreed on the decision. The jury was reconvened, leading to a retrial, and the men sought to challenge their ongoing detention.
The three defendants, who had denied all charges against them, argued that the first not guilty verdicts should have been considered final and should not have been revisited. They contended that their continued detention at HMP Belmarsh ahead of the re-trial in December was unjust. However, the High Court upheld their detention in a 20-page written ruling.
Dame Victoria Sharp, sitting alongside Mr Justice Holgate and Mr Justice Hilliard, declared that the men’s continued detention pending their retrial was lawful. This decision means that Paul and Matthew Yusuff, as well as Moussa Traore, will remain in prison until their case is reheard.
The fatal stabbing at Waterloo station shocked the community and led to a lengthy legal process. The initial unanimous verdict of not guilty and subsequent revelation of a jury forewoman’s mistake added further complexity to the case. The defendants’ argument, that the first acquitted verdicts should be considered valid and final, was ultimately unsuccessful.
The ruling by the High Court highlights the importance of upholding legal processes despite procedural errors. The retrial is scheduled for December and will now proceed with the three men remaining in custody. As the defendants continue to await their day in court, the impact of the forewoman’s mistake on their legal journey remains a significant aspect of this deeply unfortunate case.