The Government’s crisis over the anonymity of witnesses prompted the collapse yesterday of a £6 million murder trial of two men accused of shooting an East London businessman.

Douglas Johnson, 27, and David Austin, 41, were alleged to have carried out a contract killing of Charles Butler, 50, in Dagenham, East London. Four witnesses had given evidence under false names, from behind screens and with their voices distorted as part of the prosecution case.

But Judge David Paget, QC, stopped the trial at the Old Bailey after two months and ordered a retrial because of last week’s ruling. Discharging the jury, he said: “I’m afraid the trial has been derailed.”

The trial, which was nearing the end of the prosecution case, was the culmination of a four-year inquiry into the shooting and into alleged police corruption.

Explore Law

• Corporate Law

• Public Law

• Columnists

• Law Panel

• Student Law

• Law Reports

Times Recommends

• Future Stars of the Bar 2008
• The £60 million makeover: new building, new law lords
• Jobs: be careful how you ring changes