Connors family have 'slavery' charges dropped as trial continues

ALL five defendants in the Gloucestershire 'slavery' trial have been found not guilty of conspiring to hold another person in servitude.

His Honour Judge Longman ordered the jury of eight men and four women to find William Connors, Jimmy Connors, John Connors, Miles Connors and Brida Connors not guilty of the charge in count one of the indictment.

However, count two – conspiracy to require a person to carry out forced or compulsory labour – remains on the indictment.

The five defending barristers told Bristol Crown Court yesterday that they were calling no evidence and that their clients would not be taking the stand.

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Judge Longman told the jury: "In every trial, at the end of the prosecution case, I must consider if guilty verdicts are possible. It has been a long case involving relatively unfamiliar charges. As a matter of law with regard to count one there must be not guilty verdicts for all five defendants at my direction."

The incidents are alleged to have happened at the Beggars Roost caravan park in Staverton among others.

His Honour Judge Longman will sum up the 12-week case next Thursday, December 6 and send the jury out to consider their verdicts the following Monday.