Ricin! - Lawrence Archer & Fiona Bawdon

The book, co-authored with journalist Fiona Bawdon set out the story of the five men arrested and tried for terrorism offences in the now infamous ‘Ricin’ trial, where it was alleged they formed a an Al-Qaeda conspiracy to poison thousands of people.  Of the five four were acquitted of all charges, the fifth convicted of only a minor charge. Archer and Bawdon’s book covers the events that led up to the arrests and brings to light the catastrophic police, CPS, government and media failings that hyped the case up to the extent that it was cited as evidence of an Al-Qaeda – Iraq nexus in Secretary of State Colin Powell’s case at the United Nations for war against Iraq.  The story of this case does not end with the acquittals in 2005, and Lawrence Archer discussed the treatment of the men acquitted, including those fighting an extended deportation battle, which includes being held under immigration bail conditions – a control order under any other name – as well as the acquitted defendant held for almost two years under an actual control order.