1.
SV Stonehouse and daughter walk along pavement to waiting newsmen
0.26

2.
CU (SAME SHOT) Stonehouse speaks (SOUND)
0.37

3.
SV Newsmen
0.37

4.
CU Stonehouse and daughter walk into building (2 shots)
0.38

5.
SV PAN Sheila Buckley enters building surrounded by police and newsmen
1.09


This film is serviced with English speech by Mr. Stonehouse. A transcript appears below:



STONEHOUSE: "Well, as this a political trial, the prosecution have made it clear that it is being conducted from their point of view as a political trial. I have no alternative but to defend myself."



STONEHOUSE AND DAUGHTER ARRIVE AT OLD BAILEY: STONEHOUSE SPEAKS TO NEWSMEN: MRS. BUCKLEY ARRIVES.




Initials BB/2215 DE/MR/BB/2225



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: British Member of Parliament, Mr. John Stonehouse, went on trial in London on Tuesday (27 April) facing 21 charges of conspiracy, theft and fraud involving more than GBP 170,000 (350,000 U.S. dollars) and two more of making false statements to get legal aid.

The 50-year-old MP for Walsall North, who now says he supports the English National Party, is conducting his own defence in the Old Bailey's famous Number One court. He has denied all the charges.

His 29-year-old former secretary, Mrs. Sheila Buckley, faces six charges of theft of proceeds of cheques and plotting to defraud.

The charges resulted after Mr. Stonehouse was arrested in Melbourne, Australia, on extradition charges brought by the British authorities. He had previously disappeared from a Florida beach.

During his trial Mr. Stonehouse has undertaken to conduct constituency business, as he did during the committal proceedings. The rial is expected to last about three months.