MPs to discuss Ryan Passey family's call for juries to explain decisions

MPs are set to discuss proposals to make juries explain their verdicts following a campaign by the family of a young man who was stabbed to death in the Black Country – but their hopes have been dealt a blow by the Ministry of Justice.

The family of Ryan Passey, who was killed aged 24 in Chicago's nightclub in Stourbridge in 2017, are pushing for a change in the law that would compel juries to give reasons for their verdicts.

His parents were left devastated by what they called a "perverse" decision to clear the man who was accused of killing their son.

Their calls have been supported by some influential MPs, including Labour's Barry Sheerman, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Miscarriages of Justice, who said the issue "should be explored". MPs are due to discuss the matter this week.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ), however, has said it has "no plans to make these changes", stating the "finality of their verdict is the backbone of trial by jury".

The Passey family, from Quarry Bank, who also have the support of Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb, remain undeterred and insist they will keep up the pressure. They met with Justice Minister Alex Chalk last year to discuss their concerns.

Critics have questioned how the change would work in practice as all 12 jurors would have to agree on a reason and whether it would undermine the important role played by juries and the confidential nature of their deliberations.

But the family have highlighted the battle of the Stephen Lawrence family and Ann Ming's campaign on double jeopardy in an attempt to show change can be achieved no matter how difficult it appears.

Friend and family spokesman Jason Connon said: "I would remind our MPs that there was fierce resistance at the time to the last major change to our criminal justice laws surrounding our 800-plus year old double jeopardy law by campaigner Anne Ming, the mother of murdered daughter, Julie Hogg whose killer was originally acquitted at trial.

"The reality is, without us scrapping our double jeopardy laws the killer of Anne's daughter and the killers of victims like Stephen Lawrence and Cassandra McDermott would still be walking free today.

"The notion of the unexplained verdict as a cornerstone of the English jury trial has been described as ‘an article of constitutional faith’ but I would argue, as with any article of faith, it must be scrutinised and justified.

"Just because a law is centuries old does not necessarily mean it is fit for purpose in a modern democracy such as ours today."

An MoJ spokesman said: "Our thoughts remain with Mr Passey’s family and we have considered their campaign carefully.

“Juries play a vital role in our justice system and the confidentiality of jury deliberations and finality of their verdict is the backbone of trial by jury. We have no plans to make these changes, which would undermine these principles.”

Stourbridge MP Ms Webb said: "I continue to support Ryan’s family and I fully understand the sense of injustice they feel.

"There are two issues arising from this terrible tragedy that I have talked to ministers about and mentioned in Parliament.

"Firstly, Ryan’s death remains a warning that knife crime destroys lives and that work must be done across the country to stop young people carrying knives. That work has to include enforcement as well as prevention.

"The second is the family’s desire to see if the law can be changed to ensure juries must give a reason for their verdicts in certain circumstances. I have told ministers I believe this change to the law should be looked at closely."

The family have launched a private prosecution against Kobe Murray, who was cleared by a jury of murdering Mr Passey. He admitted stabbing him but claimed he did so in self-defence. A preliminary hearing is due to be held at Liverpool County Court in July.