On 15th October, 1989, British Customs & Excise arrested able seaman D R De Silva
at Felixstowe after a field-test for heroin tested false-positive. The official
forensic analysis found no heroin, just 2 kilos of coffee, laxative and other herbal
ingredients. But all was not lost, two Home Office forensic scientists transformed
this 'useless and valueless' mixture back into heroin and De Silva was convicted! These web pages
expose how the British legal system is continuing to cover-up this SCANDAL.
- The DeSilva Case: The Cover-up Continues
- A brief overview of this extraordinary case, written by the prisoner who first noticed that two British forensic scientists had fabricated the exhibits in this Customs & Excise prosecution.
- The statements of the Government 'Forensic' Scientists who transformed coffee and laxative into a brown heroin 'rip-off' powder.
- Transcript of the Second Appeal Judgement
- 23 April, 1991: The Lord Chief Justice of England, Lord Lane presided over this hearing
and neatly side-stepped the burning issues identified by Mr Koupparis, a former
appellant before Lane, who watched while the old smoothie plied his craft during
his last days on the bench. Adverse comments made during an unsuccessful Appeal
by the Birmingham Six led to Lane's 'retirement' shortly after this hearing.
| Undated: Matthew Farmer wrote citing his own grounds for appeal and
confirming that he would represent De Silva at the appeal hearing. How could anyone guess from this
that Farmer intended to present the grounds prepared by Stuart Stevens, which De Silva had rejected!
This was a deliberate deception to gain De Silva's confidence. Who was responsible for the sabotage,
Counsel who had drafted the grounds or the one who had presented them in court? A typical dirty
trick that lawyers can pull on their clients. |
| 16 October, 1991: Dr C F Candy of Forensic Access confirmed a major flaw
in the forensic evidence used to secure the two convictions. There was no possibility
of a mistake. This was pure, unadulterated corruption on the part of two British government
scientists. When challenged to explain why he had refused to call him to testify at the appeal,
Matthew Farmer claimed that Dr Candy had 'reconsidered' his evidence. The report was suppressed.
Stop Press - 11 March, 1999
A new 21-page forensic expert report prepared by Mrs Anne Franc of
Forensic Alliance, which supports Mr DeSliva's innocence, is now the basis of a submission to
the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
|
- Transcript of the Third Appeal Judgement
- 28 October, 1991: It is judgements like this which bring the British Judiciary to shame and the
entire legal profession into disrepute. Their Lordships, Matthew Farmer and Counsel
for Customs and Excise had all seen Dr Candy's damning report before the appeal
hearing but no one mentioned the fabricated evidence that undermined the safety
of BOTH convictions. Worse still, the Court conspired to leave Count 2 unchallenged
in a determined and despicable attempt to deport Mr De Silva immediately after
the hearing in the hope of avoiding the consequences of his wrongful conviction.
- A Report for the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice
- 1 November, 1991: The Royal Commission was established to examine the criminal justice system
after the convictions of the Guildford Four collapsed. It invited submissions from
interested parties. A report on De Silva's case was submitted, acknowledged and
never seen or heard of again. It catalogues De Silva's nightmare journey through the
'sausage-machine' of the British criminal justice system. A place where Home Office
scientists can turn herbal remedies made from coffee and laxative into heroin
look-a-likes by tampering with the evidence - and nobody gives a damn! It was
written after De Silva's conviction was quashed but while he was being held at HMP
Pentonville awaiting deportation.
- Advice and Opinion of Christopher Sallon QC
- 27 April, 1992: Mr Sallon QC, one-time president of the Bar Council, may have shot himself in the
foot with this one. His opinion looks like a desperate and pathetic attempt to
justify the fiasco at the Court of Appeal. Does he really expect anyone to accept
this as a true representation of justice? Is British Law so asinine?
- Fresh Evidence Affidavit
- 4 July, 1993: A Sri Lankan diplomat swore an affidavit confirming an
essential element of De Silva's defence - irrefutable evidence that he had good
reason to believe the packets contained harmless ingredients. This was proof that
Customs & Excise had known of this incident all along but had failed to disclose
it, contrary to proper legal procedures.
- The Drug Dealer That Never Was
- An article for Scallywag Magazine by Panos Koupparis, based on the report
for the Royal Commission, it features a specially commissioned Reeve illustration.
- Advertisement
- The quest for British Justice includes placing advertisements in the media.
- Bookmark this page, there's much more to come...
- ...the single judge's appeal dismissal, Customs & Excise prosecution statements,
more useless Counsels' Opinions, solicitors' correspondence and a special report into the
mysterious death of Recorder Colin Woodford, the trial judge!
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