EXTERIOR OF THE COURTHOUSE AT AYLESBURY, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE; PEOPLE -- INCLUDING RELATIVE OF THE ACCUSED -- HURRYING INSIDE FOR THIS MORNING'S SESSION; THE JUDGE ARRIVING BY CAR; THE JURY ARRIVING BY COACH; AND A CLOSED POLICE BUS LEAVING AT THE END OF THE SESSION -- PRESUMABLY ON IT'S WAY TO PRISON WITH THE NINE PEOPLE FOUND GUILTY.




Initials JM/V/DL/ES



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Background: THE JURY IN BRITAIN'S MILLION POUND STERLING -- 'GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY' - TODAY (THURSDAY) FOUND NINE OF THE MEN IN THE DOCK GUILTY, AND A TENTH NOT GUILTY OF CONSPIRACY. THE CRIME CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF MANY PEOPLE FOR ITS DARING AND DETAILED EXECUTION; THE TRIAL WHICH FOLLOWED IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE LONGEST AND MOST COMPLEX OF MODERN TIMES. THE VERDICT WAS ANNOUNCED AFTER THE JURY HAD BEEN IN RETIREMENT FOR 66 HOURS -- THE LONGEST RETIREMENT IN THE HISTORY OF BRITISH JUSTICE.

PRAISING THE JURY AND EXEMPTING THEM FROM FURTHER SERVICE FOR LIFE, THE JUDGE SAID: "YOU AND I HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE TOGETHER FOR SO LONG, LIFE WILL NEVER SEEM THE SAME WITHOUT YOU."
OF THE ELEVEN ACCUSED, TEN PLEADED GUILTY IN THIS TRIAL. THE MAN FOUND NOT GUILTY WAS MR JOHN WEATER, A SOLICITOR. THE JUDGE SAID HE WOULD NOT PASS SENTENCE UNTIL AFTER THE TRIAL OF THE OTHER ACCUSED, AND THE TRIALS OF SEVEN PEOPLE ACCUSED OF RECEIVING STOLEN MONEY.