MP calls for investigation into murder suspect's bail

Mike Penning has written to the Attorney General calling for an investigation into why a police officer charged with murdering his wife was released on bail.

Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, has called on the Attorney General to review the case papers that led to Mr Garry Weddell being released on bail.

Garry Weddell, a 47-year-old Metropolitan Police Inspector, was charged with murdering his wife last year. He was subsequently released on bail of £200,000 and now his 70-year-old mother-in-law has been found strangled and Garry Weddell’s body has been found at Broomhills Shooting Club near Markyate – which is in Mike’s constituency.

Mike said:

”There are two people now dead who would be alive today if he had not been released on bail. It is the court’s duty to protect the public, witnesses and, for that matter, defendants from harming themselves.”

He has also reiterated his calls for the Department for Justice to carry out a review of the sentences guidelines given to judges.

“Yet again a judge has made a decision that seems to go against natural justice,” he said.

Mike added:

“There are many questions that arise from this tragic case. One is about the amount of bail money itself. It doesn’t make sense to me that because Mr Weddell was in the lucky position of being able to raise £200,000 that that makes him any less a risk to the community.”

Mike has also called for an urgent statement this afternoon on the situation from Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw.