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Runaway convict cleared by jury of injuring police
Neil Millard27.01.09
AN Old Bailey jury has taken the unusual step of explaining its decision to acquit a fugitive convict accused of running over three detective constables.
Rashpal Singh,43, had been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail for 13 fraud offences in November 2005 but absconded in December 2006 while on day release.
He was tracked down by DCs Matthew Willward, Stefan Wojcieszyn and Catherine Corbett in November 2007 and drove at them because he thought they were gangsters.
Clearing Singh of one count of grievous bodily harm and two counts of actual bodily harm, the jury said: "Reaching a verdict has been tricky but we did so on the evidence."
Singh is now completing his prison sentence.
