DEFENCE SEEKS OPEN TRIAL FOR MI5 OFFICER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96B01172R000300020028-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 28, 2005
• Sequence Number: 28
• Publication Date: April 9, 1984
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For RC45~g.03 : - y~-172R000300020028-8
Defence seeks open.
trial for MIS. officer.
By Stewart Tendler
I he trial of Michael Betta-
ney, the M15 officer facing 10
charges under the Official
Secrets Act, may begin tomor-
row in the Central Criminal
Court with a fresh attempt by
his defence counsel to open
store of the proceedings to the
public.
Earlier this year Lord Lane,
the Lord Chief Justice, ruled at
the end of a hearing in
Chambers that almost the entire
case should be heard in camera.
He has ruled that when the trial
begins tomorrow the public and
press will be allowed to be
present for the first third of the
prosecution's : opening speech
and will then be excluded until
the jury conies back with
verdicts.
The restrictions are believed
to be unprecedented in peace-
tinmc. Mr Larry Grant, Mr
Bettaney's solicitor, has said
that a fresh application to open
more of the proceedings could
be made when the case opens in
Court No 1. Mr. Michael
Mansfield, for the defence, may
ask the Lord Chief Justice, who
will he presiding, to reconsider
his decision.
Mr Bettaney, aged 34; of
Coulsdon, Surrey, has also
complained from prison at the
vetting of the jury for the trial.
Sir Michael Havers, QC, At-
torney General, has given an
assurance that vetting will not
include questions on political
views or industrial activity.
Sir Michael will' be leading
the prosecution . in a case
expected to last seven or eight
working. days. Court. No I will
be closed today. That is unusualt
but it is understood to be. in
preparation for the trial. Mr
Bettaney faces six charges under
section 1 of the Official Secrets
Act and four under section 7.
Sir Michael Havers:.. No
,political queries
The charges, involve allegations
that'he offered to give a Russian
official information, that he
passed information, set up
arrangements for passing-
infor-mation using "dead letter
boxes", and gathered infor-
mation preparatory to passing it-
over. ,
The charges cover a period
ranging from December, 1982;
until. September 19 last year.
Approved For Release 2005/08/03 : CIA-RDP96B01172R000300020028-8