ABC trial
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The ABC Trial was an Official Secrets Act trial in the United Kingdom. It took place in 1978 and is named after the three defendants: Crispin Aubrey, John Berry and Duncan Campbell. Aubrey was a journalist for Time Out, John Berry was former corporal in signals intelligence and Duncan Campbell, an investigative journalist.
Timeline
- 18 February 1977: Aubrey and Campbell interviewed Berry. They were arrested and charged under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act.
- 24 May 1977: Further charges were added under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act.
- 9 August 1977: Additional charge under section 1 against Duncan Campbell, for collecting information
- 5 September 1978: Trial opens at the Old Bailey
- 18 September 1978: Trial stopped after jury member exposed as SAS officer
- 3 October 1978: Second trial opens
- 24 October 1978: All section 1 charges dropped
- 17 November 1978: Aubrey, Berry and Campbell receive non-custodial sentences.
References
- Aubrey, Crispin (1981). Who's Watching You? Britain's Security Services & the Official Secrets Act (1st ed.). Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-02-2283-9.