William Mars-Jones

Sir William Lloyd Mars-Jones, MBE (4 September 1915 – 10 January 1999) was a Welsh barrister and High Court judge. He presided over several high-profile criminal trials.

Early life and war service Mars-Jones was born in Llansannan, Denbighshire, the son of Henry Mars Jones, sometime chairman of the Denbighshire County Council, and Helen Mars Jones. His brother, David Mars-Jones, was Mayor of Colwyn in 1976 and High Sheriff of Clwyd in 1989. Mars-Jones was educated at Denbigh County School and University College Wales, Aberystwyth, where he took a First in Law and president of the Union. He then took a second degree at St John's College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the Footlights.

The same year, he presided over the ABC trial: he described it as an "oppressive prosecution", which led to all charges under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act being dropped by the Attorney-General. In 1986, he sentenced Nezar Hindawi, who had tried to blow up an El Al aircraft, to 45 years imprisonment, believed to be the longest determinate criminal sentence in British history. He retired in 1990, upon reaching the age of 75. escutcheon = Sable a stag trippant Argent on a chief Azure three swords erect Argent pommels and hilts Or. crest = A dragon's head Gules and a griffin's head Or counter combatant gorged with bars gemelles dancety counterchanged. motto = Gorau Tartan Cyflawnder