In the first trial, Ryan Canning, a serving police officer accused of rape was acquitted by a jury at the Truro Crown Court.
The defendant had met the complainant through a dating website. She claimed that he had raped her at his home. Two other women had also made similar claims.
The defence pressed the Crown for disclosure of phone records. As a consequence, no evidence was offered before the trial commenced.
At the Exeter Crown Court, Terence Birchall was acquitted by a jury of manslaughter by heroin injection.
Despite eye-witness evidence that Birchall had administered the injection, and ‘complaint’ evidence to that effect made before the death, Birchall was acquitted.
