CEDH · PRESS;GENERAL;ENG — 25 janvier 2000

.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 } .s4DDA3AA3 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic } .s76CF415B { page-break-before:always; clear:both } .s32563E28 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt } .s7ED160F0 { text-decoration:none } .s48F8B750 { font-size:8pt; display:none } .sD35C6159 { width:1.54pt; display:inline-block } .s4598CDF { width:70.9pt; display:inline-block } .sF9A986A5 { width:12.2pt; 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 } .s23A41E03 { width:36pt; display:inline-block } EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS     58   25.1.2000   Press release issued by the Registrar   HEARING IN THE CASE OF CONDRON v. THE UNITED KINGDOM   Tuesday, 25 January 2000, at 2.30 p.m.     The applicants   William Condron, an Irish national born in 1965, and Karen Condron, a British national born in 1963. The applicants were living in London at the time of the events giving rise to their application.   Summary of the facts   The applicants stood trial between 16 October 1995 and 2 November 1995 on charges of supplying heroin and possession of heroin with intent to supply. They did not answer police questions during interview. At the time of their interviews, the applicants’ solicitors said they were not fit to be interviewed; the doctor who examined them before their interviews disagreed. The applicants gave evidence at their trial. The trial judge gave the jury the option of drawing an adverse inference from the applicants’ silence during interview. They were found guilty. Although the Court of Appeal found the trial judge's direction to the jury on the question of the applicants' silence deficient, it was satisfied that the convictions were safe.   Complaints   The applicants complain that their right to a fair trial, guaranteed under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, was violated.   Procedure   The application was lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on 13   November 1996. On 1 November 1998, the case was transmitted to the Court, which declared the application admissible on 7 September 1999.   Composition of the Court   The case will be heard by a Chamber composed as follows: [Note1]   Jean-Paul Costa (French), President , Nicolas Bratza (British), Loukis Loucaides (Cypriot), Pranas Kūris (Lithuanian), Willi Fuhrmann (Austrian), Hanne Sophie Greve (Norwegian), Kristaq Traja (Albanian), Judges , Françoise Tulkens (Belgian), Karel Jungwiert (Czech), Mindia Ugrekhelidze (Georgian), Substitute Judges , [Note2]   and also Sally Dollé , Section Registrar .   Representatives of the parties   Government:   Christopher Whomersley , Agent , David Pannick QC and   Mark Shaw , Counsel; Shami Chakrabati and Ian Chisholm , Advisers ;   Applicants:   Ben Emmerson , Tony Jennings and Philippa Kaufmann , Counsel , and Mary Cunneen, Solicitor .   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 Strasbourg in 1959 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. [Note1]   For applications after 1 November 1998. [Note2]   Line returns should be used (Shift+Enter)