Former Put up Workplace boss Paula Vennells ignored calls from the organisation’s high administration group to halt sub-postmaster prosecutions, the Horizon IT inquiry has heard.
Former high in-house lawyer Chris Aujard mentioned that in 2013 the manager committee “have been in favour of ceasing prosecutions completely”, however Ms Vennells mentioned “restricted” prosecutions ought to proceed.
The inquiry is investigating the wrongful conviction of lots of of sub-postmasters on the premise of proof from the defective Horizon software program.
Ms Vennells mentioned she is “actually sorry for the devastation brought on to the Sub-Postmasters and their households”.
She added that she is co-operating with the inquiry and “won’t make any additional public remark till it has concluded”.
On Wednesday, Mr Aujard instructed the inquiry he was against the way in which sub-postmasters have been being prosecuted in 2013.
His mentioned his private view was that “felony prosecutions trigger nice stress and anxiousness and didn’t have a spot in a enterprise such because the Put up Workplace”.
When requested whether or not Ms Vennells appeared in favour of constant to pursue circumstances utilizing proof from Horizon, Mr Aujard mentioned she was not particular on the time.
Mr Aujard was the Put up Workplace’s high lawyer from 2013 to 2015, throughout which period the impartial forensic accountants Second Sight, who performed a key function in exposing the scandal, have been sacked.
When requested on the inquiry if the dismissal of Second Sight lacked equity and transparency, Mr Aujard mentioned: “That’s appropriate – actually equity.”
At first of his session, Mr Aujard apologised to the wrongfully convicted sub-postmasters and their households for the “anguish and struggling” they’ve needed to endure, including the inquiry has come “far too late” for most of the victims.
Earlier within the day, the inquiry additionally heard from Mr Aujard’s predecessor Susan Crichton, who mentioned she was “put right into a place the place I couldn’t do my job”.
She added that former Put up Workplace legal professionals Rob Wilson and Jarnail Singh had a “fairly unhealthy view” of sub-postmasters.
On Tuesday, the primary day of her testimony, Ms Crichton apologised to the sub-postmasters “for the struggling brought on to you and your households” and hoped that giving proof would imply “one thing like this by no means occurs once more”.
