Judge wants Reliance statements

Reliance had no officers available to escort a prisoner to court

A judge has ruled that sworn statements should be produced by staff from a prisoner escort firm after it caused a delay in continuing a murder trial.

Lord Hardie also called for a police report into a road crash which Reliance said was partially to blame.

The judge said not only had jurors been kept waiting, but also a paediatric consultant from Glasgow.

Jennifer Liehne, from Edinburgh, has gone on trial and denies suffocating a baby daughter 23 years ago.

Lord Hardie had earlier summoned a Reliance director to appear before him.

James Greenoak was asked to explain whether there was a policy of giving priority to "volume business" and ignoring the need to give precedence to serious cases heard by juries.

'Unreserved apology'

The row between the judge and Reliance Custodial Services began when the firm was unable to supply officers to provide a dock escort last week.

Paul McBride QC, representing the firm and its operations director, offered "an unreserved apology" to the court for the inconvenience caused to jurors, witnesses and staff after the trial was two and a half hours late in starting.

Mr McBride said a combination of factors, including work absences, a road accident and weather, was to blame.

He told the court, as Mr Greenoak sat listening, that the situation was not expected to arise again because of substantial recruitment by Reliance.

Lord Hardie said he would continue the issue to a further court hearing and would seek affidavits from various people, including Mr Greenoak.

He also called for the Reliance duty roster to be produced.

The trial continues.