ITV to show 'cruel' documentary about Jeremy Thorpe trial

An ITV documentary about the sensational 1979 trial of Jeremy Thorpe, who was cleared of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, is to be broadcast this weekend despite accusations of cruelty from the former Liberal leader's friends.

When Jeremy Thorpe Met Norman Scott includes an extended interview with the younger man in which he graphically describes being coerced into sex, an alleged affair that the former politician has always denied.

The Old Bailey trial, which sparked one of the most infamous political scandals of its time, cleared Mr Thorpe and three other men of conspiring to kill the male model, but the affair left his career in tatters.

Friends of the 73-year-old, who lives with his wife in Devon and now suffers from Parkinson's disease, have condemned the programme, insisting its makers are acting as "judge, jury and prosecution in what is effectively a retrial.

"From the list of interviewees, it is hard to see any serious attempt to consider a defence case," they wrote in a letter to The Times, whose signatories include the former Labour leader Michael Foot, the broadcaster Peter Jay, the North Devon MP Nick Harvey, and Simon Barrington-Ward, the former bishop of Coventry. They also include Lord Mishcon, Lord Avebury, Lord Lester of Herne Hill and the former High Court judge John Baker.

Mr Thorpe, who chose not to go into the witness box during the trial, was offered an interview but refused. His lifelong friend, the Rt Rev Simon Barrington-Ward, said: "I see no point in raking over these events again for the sake of sensation. It is an attempt to retry Jeremy and that is cruel at this point in his life."

In the programme, Mr Scott claims the former Liberal leader coerced him into having sex while he was under the influence of prescription drugs.

Mr Thorpe was accused of hiring a hit man to kill Mr Scott to cover up the alleged affair.

Mr Scott describes a car journey to Exmoor with Andrew Newton, who shot his Great Dane. He said the gun was then held to his head but no bullet was fired. "I was absolutely convinced he was going to kill me. The bullet that killed Rinka should have been for me," he claimed.

The programme makers Yorkshire Television said: "It was a significant chapter in political history and is a matter of enduring public interest. The programme makers have carried out their work responsibly and sought to behave courteously and sensitively in their contact with Mr Thorpe."