PLYMOUTH, UK (1 July 2008) — A JURY is expected to be picked today for the the court case of four men accused of perverting the course of justice. The case relates to an alleged 'bends' fraud plot at Fort Bovisand involving Plymouth businessman David Welsh, aged 50, of Pomphlett Road, Plymstock; his brother Raymond Welsh, 47, of Harlow, Essex; diving instructor Michael Brass, 43, from Liverpool; and James Chandler, 43, also from Liverpool. The four have pleaded not guilty to all counts at a previous hearing. The Welsh brothers and Brass deny a charge of conspiracy to defraud between June 12, 1998, and June 18, 2002. David Welsh, Brass and Chandler also deny a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice on a day or days between July 10, 2002 and October 2, 2002. The case grew out of allegations that the men had plotted to defraud the NHS by falsely claiming payments for purported emergency hyperbaric treatments for divers' decompression illness between June 12, 1998 and June 18, 2002. The trial, which will be heard by Judge Ian Leeming at Plymouth Crown Court, is expected to last six to eight weeks. Much of the discussion between the defence barristers, prosecution barristers and Judge Leeming yesterday centred on legal issues. | 
