USERS of social media were warned about posting prejudicial comments as the Attorney General made a further appearance in court to face perjury and forgery charges.
Stephen Harding, 50, of Greeba Avenue, Glen Vine, faces six charges - an offence of conspiring to commit an act against public justice, a count of perjury, three charges of forgery and one count of committing an act against public justice.
Appearing alongside him before magistrates yesterday afternoon (Wednesday) was Deputy Assessor of Income Tax Colin Goodwin, 56, of Lhon Vane Close, Onchan who faces three charges – an offence of conspiring to commit an act against public justice and two counts of committing an act against public justice.
David Farrer QC, representing the Attorney General, said committal proceedings would be contested and it was unlikely this committal hearing would take place much before the spring.
Dawn Jones, representing the second defendant, said the defence would be making an application for no case to answer in respect of the three charges facing her client.
Prosecutor Ian Unsworth QC said there was naturally a great deal of public interest in the case and while the press had reported proceedings responsibly, the case had also attracted much discussion on certain social media sites.
He called on ‘those who deem it appropriate to comment on-line to do so properly and fairly and without prejudicing in any way the right of these two men to have a fair trial.’
The prosecution agreed to a defence application to provide a schedule of unused material and to provide a copy of correspondence relating to the authority to prosecute.
Magistrates granted bail to the two defendants on the existing condition that they do not discuss the case with any witnesses.
Both men were excused from having to appear personally in court for the next hearing which has been fixed for 2.30pm on Wednesday, December 12.