After a five-week trial and several weeks of jury deliberation, judge Mr Justice Calver dismissed the jury in the Robert Venables KC case today at Southwark Crown Court after they were unable to reach a verdict on the three counts against the tax barrister in a case brought by HMRC.

Now the trial has collapsed with the jury discharged and HMRC left ruing another costly legal case. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it is seeking a retrial.

Before deliberations started, Mr Justice Calver reminded the jury ‘the prosecution will succeed only if it makes you sure’.

‘The prosecution must prove the defendant is guilty... The defendant does not have to prove anything to you,' the judge said.