Gavin’s Gaily Gigest

In today’s Times:

The Crown gave warning yesterday that it may not go ahead with the trial of a man accused of the murder of a prize-winning author unless it can hold some of the case in secret.

Mark Ellison, First Senior Treasury Counsel, said that it was a “serious possibility” that the trial of Wang Yam, 45, a financial trader, would not go ahead unless the judge grants the prosecution request for at least some of the proceedings to be held in camera.

…

The prosecution said that its application was on two grounds: national security and the protection of the identity of a witness or other person. Mr Ellison also confirmed that a “ministerial certificate” had been signed, seeking to protect certain evidence from disclosure to the defence.

A murder trial that can’t proceed because of "national security"? The author in question is Allan Chappelow, who police found dead in his house. A post-mortem revealed he died from head injuries. The only possible grounds on which this case could involve "national security" is if, whisper it, the Government played a part in Mr Chappelow’s murder. But we don’t live in a country that practices State-sponsored killings, do we?

PS. I don’t really believe the Government has committed murder, I’m using this provocative headline and speculating paragraph after the extract to underline how secrecy begets rumour and transparency and openness encourages trust between a government and its people.