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The High Court has thrown out a legal challenge by Andrew and Tristan Tate against the Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) decision to withhold the names of their accusers until they are extradited to the UK. The brothers, who face 21 charges including rape and human trafficking, argued that the refusal breached their right to a fair trial. However, Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled that the CPS had sound legal grounds to protect the identities of the alleged victims, given the brothers' "notorious" profile and potential for online harassment. Source: The Guardian
The Tates sought a judicial review, claiming the CPS's assumption that they would identify complainants on social media was an "inflated assumption of risk." Source: BBC Their barrister argued they had been treated differently from other suspects. Source: The Guardian The CPS said the decision was "time-limited" and necessary to protect vulnerable women. Source: The Guardian
Mr Justice Chamberlain dismissed the challenge as not "arguable," stating that "the decision taken in this case was coherent and rational." Source: The Guardian He noted that a senior prosecutor met the complainants and assessed their vulnerability. He also rejected a proposal by the Tates to offer a cash guarantee not to name the women, as there was no legal way to enforce such an arrangement. Source: BBC
The Tates remain in Romania under criminal investigation there, and will be extradited to the UK once proceedings conclude. The alleged offences occurred between 2012 and 2016.