The five-week trial of Robert Venables KC, a 78-year old tax barrister, related to HMRC’s claims he did not pay £2m in tax will now be reheard in October 2027, judge Mr Justice Calver confirms. The start date for the retrial has been set for 4 October 2027.

The R v Venables trial collapsed on Thursday when the jury, which was down to 10 members for various reasons, was unable to reach a verdict on the three counts of cheating the public revenue against Venables after a five-week trial and several weeks of jury deliberation at Southwark Crown Court.