Post Office legal chief accused of 'lying' to prevent a 'cascade of criminal appeals'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Rodric Williams has been accused of “lying” after failing to admit that the Post Office feared an Alan Bates victory would lead to a “cascade of criminal appeals”.

Referring to Mr Bates’ group litigation order which ended in a High Court victory for the former sub-postmaster and 554 others, Edward Henry KC asked: “The Post Office was fighting the GLO tooth and claw because you all knew that if you lost the civil litigation a cascade of criminal appeals would follow didn’t you?”

Mr Williams replied: “I don’t recall turning my mind to that time, no.”

Mr Henry said: “I suggest you’re lying. There was a strategy in the GLO which was coordinated with the pending appeals, wasn’t there, fight it at all costs?”

Mr Williams answered: “There was certainly discussion around appeals over the common issues judgement at that time, yes.”

Mr Henry asked: “Even recuse the judge to put a spanner in the works?”

Mr Williams replied: “Post Office made an application to recuse the managing judge, yes.”