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Retrial ordered for UK couple accused of sex act at open-air family concert

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The legal woes of a British couple accused of indulging in a sex act during a BBC Radio 2 concert in Hyde Park continued today.

Lisanne Beck, 47, and her boyfriend Simon Murphy, 48, landed themselves in the dock of Court One of the Old Bailey after they were filmed on a mobile phone locked in alleged lewd behaviour.

Music-lovers complained after seeing Beck and Murphy during a set by Paloma Faith at the family event on September 14 last year, their three-day trial heard last week.

But the pair, from Swansea, denied a charge of outraging public decency and a jury of nine women and two men could not reach a verdict and were discharged.

Afterwards, judge Peter Rook QC gave the prosecution a week to decide whether to seek a retrial but said that regardless, the experience in the dock was “chastening” for the pair from Swansea.

He said: “It must have been a harrowing experience. Whatever the Crown says, it will have been a chastening experience over the last few days, I’m sure everyone will agree with that.”

Today, prosecutor Tom Cleeve informed the court that the Crown would pursue a retrial.

A date was fixed for the case to start on August 10.

The defendants, who are on bail, were not required to attend today’s brief hearing.

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