Thorpe Bid Fails (Press, 18 November 1978)

Jeremy Thorpe, the former leader of the British Liberal Party, has had his attempt to withdraw prosecution immunity granted to a key witness, Peter Bessell, rejected by the High Court. This ruling was made on 18 November 1978, amid serious charges against Thorpe, including conspiracy and incitement to murder. Bessell, who is 57 years old and has had a long-standing relationship with Thorpe for over two decades, arrived from California to testify in the case. Thorpe's lawyer argued that the immunity provided by the director of prosecutions amounted to a "charter to commit perjury." In contrast, a representative from the Prosecutor's Office contended that the immunity did not protect Bessell against potential perjury charges. Lord Chief Justice Widgery presided over the proceedings and ultimately refused Thorpe's application to remove the immunity. Thorpe, who is 49 years old, did not attend the court session. The charges against him include inciting Norman Scott, a former male model who alleges that he and Thorpe once had a homosexual affair, to commit murder. Additionally, Thorpe faces conspiracy to murder charges alongside a former Liberal Party treasurer and two other individuals. The court has scheduled a hearing to commence on the following Monday in Minehead, western England, to determine whether the case will advance to trial. This hearing is expected to take two to three weeks to resolve.

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