Home · World · Oct 8 archive
Judge Rules Warrants to Search Andrew's Properties Were Unlawful
Confirmed
In Short: A London judge ruled that search warrants for Prince Andrew's properties were unlawful, with police agreeing to invalidate them.
A London judge ruled Thursday that search warrants for the properties of former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, were unlawful, according to ABC News and Al Jazeera.
The judge, Nicholas Hilliard, said that the Thames Valley Police had made a significant error in applying for the warrants when they searched the properties of the former prince.
Hilliard noted that the parties had agreed to invalidate the warrants before the hearing.
Police had initially searched two of Andrew's homes on suspicion of misconduct in public office, focusing on allegations that he shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein when he was a U.K. trade envoy.
The investigation, however, may continue despite the invalidation of the warrants.
"Legal proceedings are currently ongoing to decide how material seized during the searches will be managed and whether we can lawfully retain it in support of our ongoing investigation," a Thames Valley Police spokesperson said.
"We accept the position that the initial court’s decision to issue warrants under the specific piece of legislation used was incorrect and therefore, these must be legally quashed," the spokesperson added.
While Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, continues to receive a stipend from the king’s private funds, Buckingham Palace has made it clear that those funds may not be used to fund his effort to challenge the search warrants.
Mountbatten-Windsor was not in court for the hearing.
The judge's ruling does not bring the investigation to an end, and Andrew remains under investigation.
What's confirmed
- Justice Nicholas Hilliard said that the Thames Valley Police had made a significant error in applying for the warrant when they searched the properties of the former prince now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
- Mountbatten-Windsor was not in court for the hearing.
What's still developing
- Police searched his former home in Windsor, west of London, and Sandringham, eastern England, but he subsequently launched a legal challenge over the legality of the warrants obtained.
- During the search, officers found the firearm that had been reported stolen along with other firearms.
- The suspect was booked into Walla Walla County Jail on charges of theft of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm and six counts of unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree.
- Officers then obtained search warrants for the suspect and his property.