Murder trial paused as witness’s secret identity becomes known

A WITNESS granted anonymity to give evidence in a prison murder trial has refused to come back to court after his identity became known in a “very regrettable accident”.

The inmate, known by the pseudonym Bobby Dorset, was giving evidence for the prosecution in the case of three Pentonville prisoners accused of killing inmate Jamal Mahmoud.

The 21-year-old father was stabbed to death on the landing of G Wing last October alledgedly in a dispute over smuggling contraband into jail.

Special measures were taken at the Old Bailey to keep Mr Dorset’s true identity secret. He spoke through a distorting voice modulator and his face was hidden from view by a screen.

But after less than an hour in the witness box on Wednesday last week, Judge Richard Marks QC called a halt to his evidence and sent the jury home.

Yesterday, the jurors were recalled and the judge explained that Mr Dorset was unwilling to continue after his identity had been revealed by a “very regrettable” accident.

Judge Marks told the jury: “Matters were brought to my attention which led to our breaking off from his evidence and it has not been possible to

‘The upshot is that he is no longer willing to give any further evidence, so you will not be hearing from him’

resume the case… it became apparent that the true identity of the witness Mr Dorset had become known.

“Having looked into the matter in some detail, I am entirely satisfied that this very regrettable situation arose by reason of a genuine accident.

“It was in no way whatsoever the fault of the witness himself or the prosecution or the defence or any of the defendants. This development was made known to the witness and the upshot is that he is no longer willing to give any further evidence and so you will not be hearing from him further.”

The judge said Mr Dorset had already given some evidence, but had yet to say anything about what he saw on the day of the killing.

He said he would give more directions to the jurors about what they had heard from Mr Dorset, whose evidence had not been tested by defence crossexamination.

He added: “Above all else, it is critically important you do not hold it in any way whatsoever against any of the defendants.”

Basana Kimbembi, 35, Joshua Ratner, 27, and Robert Butler, 31, have denied murdering Mr Mahmoud at the north London prison and have denied wounding Mr Mahmoud’s associate, Mohammed Ali, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues.