Blackpool police slammed over Charlene investigation

11:15am Thursday 10th April 2008

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Blackpool police have been accused of a catalogue of incompetence after two men charged with being behind the disappearance and murder of the schoolgirl were sensationally cleared yesterday.

Mohammed Reveshi and another man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were due to face a retrial after a jury failed to reach a verdict in the original case last August.

But yesterday charges against both men were dropped at Preston Crown Court. And the barrister defending Mr Reveshi, John Bromley-Davenport QC, slammed the police investigation in court, accusing them of manipulation and lying on oath.

Police said they needed time before responding to Mr Bromley-Davenport's criticisms.

Charlene, 14, has not been seen since she kissed her mum Karen goodbye at a town centre bus stop in November 2003.

The case against Mr Reveshi, 50, of Hornby Road, Blackpool, who was charged with disposing of Charlene's body, and the other man, who was accused of murdering the teenager, collapsed after a key prosecution witness was considered no longer reliable.

Prosecutors yesterday offered "no evidence", and Mr Justice Roderick Evans ordered not guilty verdicts to be returned on both men.

Speaking from the family's Buchanan Street home last night, Charlene's mum Karen Downes said: "We were told what was happening by police at 9.30am and our reaction was of total devastation.

"The family have been in tears all day, but I want to say that I will never, ever give up until justice is done.

"This puts us back to square one, to the day that Charlene disappeared, and after all this time my family still has no closure.

"I still believe there are people out there who know where she is, and we will not rest until Charlene is found."

Asked if she had confidence in the police investigation, she said: "Yes and no, I think they did an awful lot of hard work in the investigation, but the evidence should have been presented in a more solid way."

Detective Superintendent Kevin Toole, who led the investigation into Charlene's alleged murder, said: "We have worked tirelessly in our pursuit of justice for Charlene and her family, but we must now accept that we don't have sufficient evidence to secure convictions in this case.

"This does not mean that the investigation that was launched when Charlene disappeared is at an end and the inquiry will remain open.

"Our thoughts are with Charlene's parents, her family and friends at this time. They will find it difficult to put Charlene to rest until they feel that justice has been done."

In court Mr Bromley-Davenport said: "Mr Raveshi's defence team have uncovered, within the Blackpool Police Service, an astonishing catalogue of incompetence, failures to disclose, manipulation and lies, some of which were uttered on oath during the trial last year.

"If the jury at that trial had swallowed the lies and been duped by the manipulation, a grave miscarriage of justice would have occurred and Mr Raveshi would now be serving a very long prison sentence for offences he did not commit.

"For nearly three and a half years the Blackpool Police have been hellbent on the ruthless pursuit of someone, who has steadfastly maintained his innocence throughout."

He said his client's reputation had suffered severe damage and he would be seeking compensation from the police. Mr Raveshi spent two years in custody.

Despite Lancashire police's biggest ever missing persons search, Charlene, a former St Georges High School pupil, has never been found.

More than 200 police officers have been involved in the inquiry since it was launched in November 2003, and Detective Sergeant Jan Beasant spent 2,400 hours over two years transcribing 52 tapes, that police said proved the guilt of both men.

Det Supt Toole added: "This has been one of Lancashire Constabulary's longest running murder investigations. It has been an incredibly complex, difficult and time-consuming inquiry."

The first trial ended on August 7 after 13 weeks, and the jury deliberated for 49 hours before saying they could not reach a verdict.