CEDH · PRESS;GENERAL;ENG — 20 octobre 1999

.s800EAC49 { font-size:12pt } .sFE10DC93 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:center } .s29100277 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold } .sA1D3DA2E { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:justify } .s94935B0F { width:389.85pt; display:inline-block } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial } .s76CF415B { page-break-before:always; clear:both } .s32563E28 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt } .s4DDA3AA3 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic } .s7ED160F0 { text-decoration:none } .s33165EBA { font-family:Arial; font-size:8pt; vertical-align:super; color:#0069d6 } .sD35C6159 { width:1.54pt; display:inline-block } .s4598CDF { width:70.9pt; display:inline-block } .sAFD15926 { width:8.87pt; display:inline-block } .s23A41E03 { width:36pt; display:inline-block } .sCB27B9E { width:16.66pt; display:inline-block } .sC5412BEF { width:51.05pt; display:inline-block } .sA36B60A1 { font-family:Arial; font-style:italic } .sF6A12959 { width:33%; height:1px; text-align:left } .s2EB42ED2 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt } .s653E6C45 { font-family:Arial; font-size:6.67pt; vertical-align:super; color:#0069d6 } EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS     561   20.10.1999   Press release issued by the Registrar   HEARING IN THE CASES OF JASPER, ROWE AND DAVIS AND FITT v. THE UNITED KINGDOM   Wednesday, 20 October 1999 at 9 a.m.     The applicants   The cases concern three applications (nos. 27052/95, 28901/95 and 29777/96) brought by four British nationals. Eric Jasper, who was born in 1933, Raphael Rowe and Michael Davis, who were born in 1968 and 1966 respectively, and Barry Fitt, who was born in 1933.   Summary of the facts   Mr Rowe and Mr Davis are currently serving sentences for murder and other offences in Maidstone Prison (England). Mr Jasper is in Maidstone Prison for fraudulent evasion of the prohibitions on importing cannabis and Mr Fitt is in Whitemoor Prison for conspiracy to rob and possession of a firearm and a prohibited weapon.   During criminal proceedings against all four applicants, relevant evidence was withheld from the defence on the ground of public interest immunity.   Complaint   The applicants complain that the non-disclosure by prosecution of relevant evidence on the ground of public interest immunity meant they were denied a fair trial in breach of Article 6 § 1 and 3 (b) and (d) of the European Convention on Human Rights.   Procedure   The applications were lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights in 1995 and 1996. Having declared the applications admissible, the Commission adopted reports on 20 October 1998 in which it expressed the opinion: by 19 votes to 11, that there had been no violation of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention (Jasper); unanimously, that there had been a violation of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention in conjunction with Article 6 §§ 3(b) and (d) of the Convention (Rowe and Davis); by 18 votes to 12, that there had been no violation of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention in conjunction with Article 6 §§ 3(b) and (d) of the Convention and, unanimously, that there has been no violation of Article 6 § 2 of the Convention (Fitt).   The Commission referred the cases to the Court on 6 March 1999.   Composition of the Court   The cases will be heard by the Grand Chamber composed as follows:   Luzius Wildhaber (Swiss), President , Elisabeth Palm (Swedish), Luigi Ferrari Bravo [1] (Italian), Lucius Caflisch [2] (Swiss), Jean-Paul Costa (French), Willi Fuhrmann (Austrian), Karel Jungwiert (Czech), Marc Fischbach (Luxemburger), Boštjan Zupančič (Slovenian), Nina Vajić (Croatian), John Hedigan (Irish), Wilhelmina Thomassen (Dutch), Margarita Tsatsa-Nikolovska (FYROMacedonia), Tudor Panţîru (Moldovan), Egils Levits (Latvian), Kristaq Traja (Albanian), Judges , Sir John Laws , ad hoc Judge , Benedetto Conforti (Italian), Jerzy Makarczyk (Polish), Riza Türmen (Turkish), Substitute Judges ,   and also Maud de Boer-Buquicchio , Deputy Registrar .   Representatives of the parties   Government:   Martin Eaton , Agent ,   Ross Cranston , QC, the Solicitor General,   James Eadie , Counsel ,   Richard Heaton , Home Office,   Gillian Harrison , Home Office,   Chris Burke , Customs and Excise,   Fiona Russell , Crown Prosecution Service,   Adam Chapman , Law Officer’s Department, Advisers ;   Applicants:   Ben Emmerson , Counsel ,     Phillippa Kaufman , Liberty,     Mary Cunneen , Liberty,     Stewart Young , Barrister,     Alan Master , Solicitor, Advisers .   After the hearing the Court will begin its deliberations, which are held in private. Judgment will be delivered at a later date.   Registry of the European Court of Human Rights F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex Contacts:   Roderick Liddell (telephone: (0)3 88 41 24 92)   Emma Hellyer (telephone: (0)3 90 21 42 15) Fax: (0)3 88 41 27 91   The European Court of Human Rights was set up in 1959 in Strasbourg to deal with alleged violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights. On 1 November 1998 a full-time Court was established, replacing the original two-tier system of a part-time Commission and Court. [1] Elected as the judge in respect of San Marino. [2] Elected as the judge in respect of Liechtenstein.