R v Huhne
Regina v Christopher Huhne and Vasiliki Pryce[n 1] is the prosecution of the former British Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne MP, and his former wife, Vicky Pryce, the former Head of the Government Economic Service, for perverting the course of justice, contrary to common law. Huhne became the first Cabinet minister in British history to resign as a consequence of criminal proceedings. On 4 February 2013, Huhne was convicted on the basis of his own plea after re-arraignment. The trial of Pryce began on the following day, lasting until 20 February 2013 when the jury were discharged by the judge. A re-trial began on 25 February 2013 and led to the conviction of Pryce on 7 March 2013.
Regina v Huhne and Pryce
Regina v Christopher Huhne and Vasiliki Pryce
The Queen (on the application of Times Newspapers Limited) v the Crown Court at Chelmsford
Criminal proceedings[edit]
Preliminary hearings[edit]
On 3 February 2012, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC announced that there was sufficient evidence to bring charges against Huhne and Pryce.[6] Huhne immediately resigned as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, becoming the first cabinet minister in British history to resign as a result of criminal proceedings. They were summoned to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 16 February 2012, at which (by right) neither defendant indicated a plea. They were each granted unconditional bail. The case was sent for trial at the Crown Court at Southwark, and an initial hearing was fixed for 2 March 2012.[7]
The charge against Huhne was that:[8]