Nicky Jacobs cleared of PC Blakelock murder

He stood trial at the Old Bailey, accused of being part of an armed gang that attacked and killed the police officer who was attempting to protect firefighters during rioting on the Broadwater Farm estate. The violence followed the death of Cynthia Jarret, 49, who collapsed after suffering a heart attack while police officers searched her home following the arrest of her son.

There were cheers from the public gallery as the verdicts were returned by the jury. Nicky Jacobs, now 45, was 16 at the time of the killing.

Earlier in the proceedings, the jury heard that the prosecution was depending in part on the testimony of people who would themselves have been charged with the murder, had they not been granted immunity.

Some of the witnesses due to give evidence have also been “rewarded” for doing so, the jury heard.

On hearing the verdict, Jacobs stood up, held his head in his hands and then punched the air. Later, he sat down and sobbed before being taken from the dock.

His supporters in the public gallery, including Winston Silcott, whose conviction for the murder of Pc Blakelock was quashed in 1991, shouted “yeah, yeah” and called out “brother, brother”.

Pc Blakelock’s family looked distraught – one of his three sons held his head in his hands, while his widow, Elizabeth, left the court in a hurry soon after the verdicts were delivered.

Courtenay Griffiths QC, for the defence, said outside the courtroom: “I’m delighted, I think the jury reached exactly the right verdicts. Now I have to go and see my client.”

PC Blakelock’s family said they were “extremely sad and disappointed at the verdict”.

The family of Keith Blakelock, sons (L-R) Lee, Kevin and Mark Blakelock and their mother Elizabeth Johnson arrive the Old Bailey for the start of the trial.

The family of PC Keith Blakelock released a statement that read: “We are obviously extremely sad and disappointed at the verdict. We viewed this trial as an opportunity to see some form of justice served for Keith. There were many people involved in a murder on that night of 6 October 1985 and it is regretful that no-one has yet to be found guilty despite the number of people with knowledge of the events of that night.”

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, said that PC Blakelock joined the force to “serve and protect the community of London”.

He added: “That desire ended in his murder, following an attack that was without mercy, his murder was barbaric. Sadly, Keith’s widow, family and friends still have not seen anyone brought to justice for his murder. The dignity, extraordinary patience and courage they have shown in their nearly thirty year quest for justice is humbling.”

Silcott said: “The police are bitter about what happened, that’s why they brought this case. My conclusion is that they had promised the Blakelock family that they would get justice for him and so they were trying to get anyone they could.

“Vengeance, that’s what the police were out to get. I just hope Nicky Jacobs will be able to rebuild his life after this. This place is called the Central Criminal Court, and that’s what it is – criminal.”

Jacobs’ trial followed earlier proceedings in 1987, when three men were convicted of the murder but later freed on appeal.

The decision was made to give immunity to “kickers” – those who were involved in the attack but did not use weapons – in exchange for their co-operation. The jury heard that some witnesses were also paid for their co-operation.

The court heard the evidence of three, who said that they saw Jacobs use a weapon during the attack. But their evidence was dismissed by defence counsel Courtenay Griffiths QC as “bereft of coherence, riddled with lies, incoherent and contradictory”.

The court also heard that Jacobs wrote a poem about the murder. The poem read: “Me have de chopper we have intention to kill an police officer Pc Blakelock de unlucky f***er him dis an help de fireman.”

On this evidence, Mr Griffiths said: “Bob Marley wrote I Shot the Sheriff but I have not heard of him being put on trial for murder.”

The Old Bailey trial also heard that in May 2000 Jacobs was arrested and told a police officer: “F*** off, I was one of them who killed Keith Blakelock.”