Bone-in butcher opts for trial by jury

05 June 1998

Bone-in butcher opts for trial by jury

By FWi staff

ONE of the first butchers to be prosecuted in England under the Governments beef-on-the-bone ban will have his case heard by a jury.

David Clarke pleaded not guilty when he appeared at Milton Keynes magistrates court earlier today (Friday) and elected to be tried at Crown Court instead.

Mr Clarke is accused of selling forerib of beef on the bone at his Milton Keynes butchers shop when it was raided by environmental health officers earlier this year.

Another butcher, Dejon Terry, is also accused of selling beef on the bone. Milton Keynes magistrates adjourned his case for three weeks.

Farm Minister Jack Cunningham banned sales of beef on the bone last December after government scientists linked it with BSE.