Zara Aleena killer sees further charge dropped

Charges person been dropped against Zara Aleena's murderer aft a situation store teacher pleaded blameworthy to having an inappropriate narration with him.

Hayley Jones, 33, had admitted to misconduct successful a nationalist bureau implicit an inappropriate narration with Jordan McSweeney, 31, betwixt 6 March 2023 and 7 April 2023 astatine HMP Belmarsh.

McSweeney was charged with encouraging oregon assisting the committee of an indictable offence.

On Tuesday, during a proceeding astatine Woolwich Crown Court, a authoritative said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had decided to driblet the complaint against McSweeney "in airy of" Jones' blameworthy plea.

"Some of the grounds was that helium was getting peculiar favours oregon treatment," Judge David Miller said of the killer's case.

"He whitethorn person been bragging to different captive astir the powerfulness that helium had implicit this person."

Prosecutor Polly Dyer told the tribunal a "full review" of the lawsuit against McSweeney had been undertaken "at the highest level of the CPS".

"The Crown's presumption is to connection nary evidence," she said.

Ms Dyer declined to connection immoderate much details astir the determination erstwhile invited to bash truthful by the judge.

A CPS spokesperson said aft the proceeding determination was "insufficient evidence" to beryllium McSweeney's guilt.

Neither Jones oregon McSweeney were required to be the hearing.

Jones, of Strood successful Kent, volition beryllium sentenced connected 4 February aft she has been psychologically assessed.