8 Evening Post, Wednesday, February 20, 2008 lep.co.

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Another farce in
our justice system Our lives Grief of
murder

● From Page 1
who gave varying accounts of
how the “victims”, who cannot
be named for legal reasons,
were attacked on a driveway.
The court heard how the two
men stepped in after a group
have been
CPS. I have always had the re-
spect of the police but since this
I have no faith in the police and
victim’s
parents
the judicial system.”
Dad-of-one Mr Dale, who
works at CTM Fire and Securi-
ty in Leyland, said: “We have

of boys went looking to “bat-
ter” another teenager who was
accused of bullying.
Their lawyer Paolo Passeri-
ni successfully urged the judge
at Preston Magistrates’ Court
to halt proceedings yesterday,
arguing there was “no case to
answer” as there were incon-
sistencies with the evidence.
Prosecution solicitor Penny
Maudsley urged the judge to
look more closely at CCTV
footage, but the judge dis-
missed the case.
The judge also said: “I don’t
think this prosecution has
served any public interest.”
He told the pair they could
claim any defence costs.
Dale, who was awarded legal
costs, and Parkes, who had
been granted legal aid, spoke
of their relief after the trial but
said they were angry the case
had gone to court.
Mr Parkes, who works for
energy firm E.ON, said: “We
apprehended the children to
wait for the police to arrive.
“We have been unjustly
treated by the police and the
gone through all the trauma of
it. We feel let down by the po-
lice. We are very disappoint-
ed.”
Mr Passerini said after the
case: “We have always main-
tained Mr Parkes and Mr Dale
should never have been prose-
cuted.”
The solicitor said he had con-
tacted the CPS at least seven
times in a bid to stop the case.
He said he cited comments
made by Justice Secretary and
Blackburn MP Jack Straw call-
ing on the law to be tightened
to favour citizens who inter-
vene to try to stop violence.
CPS district crown prosecu-
tor Peter McNaught said: “We
considered this case very care-
fully. However, in all the cir-
cumstances, we consider that it
was in the public interest to
bring this case.”
Fulwood police inspector
June Chessell said: “If anyone
has a problem with local polic-
ing they can attend a PACT
meeting. Times are on local no-
tice boards and the Lancashire
Constabulary website.”
ripped apart
QUIZ: Police on the streets
around the murder scene
by David Coates
david.coates@lep.co.uk
THE devastated parents of mur-
der victim David Cornall have
spoken for the first time how his
killing has ripped their lives
apart.
William and Valerie Cornall, who do
not live in the country, described the at-
tack as “a cowardly act of violence”
which had totally devastated the family.
Police were out on the streets around Rib-
bleton Park, the scene of the killing, last
night speaking to potential witnesses a week
on from the stabbing of the 30-year-old.
Det Supt Steve Brunskill, the officer lead-
ing the investigation, also revealed how
CCTV images have shown Mr Cornall walk-
ing down New Hall Lane towards his sister’s ON THE STREETS: Police returned to the scene of David Cornall’s murder last night
home on Hesketh Close, Ribbleton.
police.” Det Supt Brunskill said that in- hooded top, with the hood up over his pat-
In a statement, his parents said: “For terned baseball cap, as he walked home
someone to do this to David is just some- quiries did not lead him to believe that Mr
Cornall had any enemies. down New Hall Lane having left the Fox
thing we cannot understand. and Grapes pub in the city centre at 9.50pm
He said: “David was quite a robust char-
Collapse acter and I someone who would stand his last Tuesday.
ground, but he was not the kind of person Det Supt Brunskill said he believed the
“With us living out of the country, it was who would go looking for trouble.
particularly distressing for our daughter to answer to the murder “lies within the com-
have her brother knock on her front door, “There is nothing that I have found out munity” around Ribbleton Park and ap-
then collapse on her lounge floor with such about David which makes me think he had a pealed for people to come forward with in-
a horrific wound to his back. grudge against anyone or anyone had a formation.
grudge against him, which is why we are not He said: “If people are considering keep-
“We will always be extremely proud of ruling out the possibility this was a random
her for the courage she showed under such ing quiet as some kind of silent honour
attack.” among villains that is not right and I believe
extreme pressure.
“As well as ourselves and our daughter, He said the victim was wearing a red any ‘honourable’ villain should think about
our four grandchildren will miss growing up the devastation this has caused to this man’s
with Uncle T as they called him, both now
and in the years to come.
lep.co.uk family.”
He said officers would continue to carry
“It has also been a great shock to all see previous stories out house-to-house inquiries on New Hall
David’s friends who have given us all great Lane this week and make a leaflet drop ap-
support. ● Victim shown on CCTV minutes before pealing for information.
“If anybody has any information of the murder ● Anyone with information about the inci-
whereabouts of this cowardly person we ● Police tracing victim’s final hours dent should call Preston Police on 01772
would ask them to please contact Preston 203203 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
● Knives common in Preston’s parks

Taxpayers to foot extra police bill

DOZENS more police officers
will take to the streets of Lan-
cashire under plans to pump
more money into the force.
A total of 84 new officers and
nine police staff would be re-
cruited in a move which would
see an extra 7.95% added to the
police part of the council tax bill.
It comes as new figures reveal
Lancashire’s policing bill is in-
creasingly being passed on to
by Mark Hookham
Westminster Reporter
mark.hookham@ypn.co.uk
hard-pressed council taxpayers.
Home Office figures pub-
lished in Parliament show that
the proportion of Lancashire
Police’s budget which is met by
the council tax precept has in-
creased over the past 11 years.
Police forces are funded by a
combination of grants from the
government and from a precept
on local council tax bills.
The figures published by
Home Office minister Tony Mc-
Nulty show that in 1997/98,
council taxpayers were paying
for 13.6% of the force’s annual
budget, with central government
picking up the rest.
However, by 2007/08, the
council tax precept contribution
had increased to 23.2% of the
budget.
County forces have seen the
council tax contribution in-
crease, on average, from 16.8%
of their budgets to 31.7%.
An average Band D property
in the county pays a £125.95 pre-
cept to the police authority. This
would rise to £135.96.