CPS Soham lawyer In Queen's Birthday Honours
11/06/2004
The Cambridgeshire Crown Prosecution Service's reviewing lawyer in the Soham murder case, Marion Bastin, has been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Mrs Bastin, who as head of the Trials Unit was the reviewing lawyer in the case of Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr said: "I am very honoured to receive this award. I have accepted it on behalf of the dedicated Cambridgeshire Crown Prosecution Service team, which I was proud to have lead through the Soham case."
The case of R v Huntley and Carr was the biggest case that Cambridgeshire CPS had ever handled. From the day before the couple were arrested, said Mrs Bastin, the CPS worked with the police.
She said: "We continued working closely and effectively in the police operations room throughout the entire investigation advising the police on a daily basis."
The conviction of Ian Huntley for the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman and of Maxine Carr for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, was a team effort. Mrs Bastin said: "I would like to acknowledge my thanks to prosecuting counsel, the Cambridgeshire Police, the Forensic Science Service and other expert witnesses, all of whom worked so hard on this case."
The head of CPS Cambridgeshire's Trials Unit since 2000, Mrs Bastin was educated at Coventry University and was admitted as a qualified solicitor in 1978. She worked initially at Coventry and Northampton magistrates' courts as a court clerk then became an assistant prosecuting solicitor with Northampton County Council.
She moved to South Yorkshire County Council in 1980 and joined the CPS on its formation in 1986, moving to Cambridgeshire CPS in 1993 where she was a principal crown prosecutor. She worked exclusively on the Soham case since August 2002 together with colleague John Goodier, a senior crown prosecutor.
She said: "Although I am delighted to accept this honour, I am very conscious of the terrible loss and suffering that will always be felt by the families of Holly and Jessica. Throughout the investigation and trial, the conduct of the families was an inspiration to us all. I know that the thoughts of the entire prosecution team will always be with them."
Notes to Editors
- Mrs Bastin's previous cases have included that of Lea Shakespeare, the rapist who drugged his victims with the date-rape drug GHB, who received 10 life sentences in 2003 for rape and arson; the Rikki Neave case, where Rikki's mother, Ruth, was sentenced in 1996 to eight years' imprisonment for cruelty and neglect. Rikki, six, had been found strangled near his Peterborough home.
- Ian Huntley was jailed for life on 17 December 2003 at the Old Bailey for the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. Maxine Carr was sentenced at the same time to three and half years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Both had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were convicted by a 11-1 majority.
- Mrs Bastin is currently on secondment to the DPP's Private Office for six months, after which she will return to Cambridgeshire to prosecute.
- Mrs Bastin is married with two teenage children and lives near Bedford.
- For further information contact CPS Press Office on 0207 796 8180.
