Top British Court Sets Aside Ruling Against Pinochet
In an unprecedented move, Britain’s highest court Thursday set aside its own ruling against Gen. Augusto Pinochet because a judge failed to disclose his ties to Amnesty International.
The decision rattled the judiciary and stalled Spain’s efforts to extradite the former Chilean dictator.
Responding to the legal debacle in the House of Lords, the head of Britain’s judiciary said top judges must be required to declare possible conflicts and withdraw from cases where bias might be inferred.
“We must make every effort to ensure that such a state of affairs could not occur again,” wrote Lord Irvine, the Lord Chancellor.
The unanimous ruling by a five-judge tribunal means that a new House of Lords panel will rehear Pinochet’s claim that, under British law, his status as a former foreign head of state gives him immunity from arrest on charges of murder and torture during his 1973-90 rule.
Pinochet, who was arrested Oct. 16 while recuperating from back surgery, cannot leave the country and remains under police guard at a rented mansion 20 miles west of London.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
