“Frances Andrade’s experience in the witness box left her feeling violated. Within days she had killed herself. Is it time we changed the way we prosecute sexual assault?”
The Guardian, 13th April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“One of Britain’s most senior police officers has accused defence lawyers of ‘exploiting’ the weakness of sex abuse victims making prosecutors reluctant to bring cases to court.”
The Independent, 12th March 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“Much has been written about this subject but for the uninitiated this taking of oral evidence (usually from experts) ‘hot tub’ style, means having expert witnesses being questioned and cross-examined together – firstly by the judge or arbitrators and then by the parties’ representatives themselves – and indeed even by each other! Known in polite circles as concurrent evidence, hot tubbing can be used to great effect in construction related disputes, such as those involving design and build issues, measurement disputes, delays, and financial loss.”
Hardwicke Chambers, 7th January 2013
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
“A top judge has taken the unprecedented step of ordering two senior government officials to face cross-examination in court over a classified US document leaked by WikiLeaks. It is thought to be the first time that one of the WikiLeaks cables has featured in a UK court case.”
The Guardian, 25th July 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Prosecutors could be forced to stop using evidence from victims and witnesses who do not attend court in another human rights battle between Britain and Europe.”
Daily Telegraph, 13th December 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“This week the Times exposed a leaked report into child sexual exploitation suggesting that the way that vulnerable victims give evidence in court should be changed in an attempt to ensure more abusers and rapists are convicted. The idea is that victims in this country should be spared the ordeal of answering questions during proceedings.”
Halbury’s Law Exchange, 22nd November 2011
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
“An increasing number of victims of domestic abuse, including children, will be cross-examined in court by their alleged assailants if the government goes ahead with plans to cut legal aid, a coalition of family and children’s charities has warned.”
The Guardian, 24th October 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The Milly Dowler trial raised a number of questions about the operation of the criminal justice system.Ali Naseem Bajwa QC argues that, despite criticisms, the trial process was a fair one.”
Garden Court Chambers Blog, 6th October 2011
Source: www.gclaw.wordpress.com
“Victims of sexual abuse are in danger of being cross-examined in court by their tormentors unless the government makes legal aid available in such cases, according to a report by the Commons’ justice select committee.”
The Guardian, 14th July 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Any further ‘rebalancing’ of our justice system in favour of the accused risks imperilling the right to fair trial.”
The Guardian, 4th July 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Victims of crime and their families should be protected from aggressive and disrespectful cross-examination during trial under a charter of rights for witnesses, the Government’s ‘victims’ tsar’, will recommend this week.”
The Independent, 4th July 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“The furore over the cross-examination of Milly Dowler’s parents has placed advocacy in the courts under a fierce spotlight. Putting the rights and wrongs of the Dowler case to one side, the public debate has probably come at a good time for the Joint Advocacy Group (JAG), which will shortly introduce a controversial quality assurance scheme for advocates (QASA) working in criminal law.”
The Guardian, 1st July 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Kenneth Clarke has said he recognises the ‘appalling’ treatment of Milly Dowler’s family at her killer’s trial.”
BBC News, 28th June 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“Today I am talking to Professor Gary Slapper, Director of the Law School at The Open University. We look at the relentless march towards privatisation in legal education, the Legal Aid reforms and briefly examine the criticism of Jeffrey Samuels QC in the Dowler case.”
Charon QC, 28th June 2011
Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com
“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.
“The family of one of Levi Bellfield’s murder victims has hit out at the way his defence was handled during his trial for the killing of Milly Dowler.”
The Guardian, 27th June 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The judge in Levi Bellfield’s trial could not spare Milly Dowler’s parents the trauma of giving evidence.”
The Guardian, 27th June 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Britain’s courts will see sweeping changes in favour of the victims of serious crime in the light of the Milly Dowler murder trial, the victims’ commissioner has vowed.”
The Guardian, 25th June 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Defendants must be able to put their case – ‘however appalling’ – fairly before a court, ex-director of Public Prosecutions Lord Macdonald has said.”
BBC News, 26th June 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“The director of public prosecutions said he would examine how victims are treated in court after admitting the Milly Dowler murder case raised ‘fundamental questions’.”
The Independent, 25th June 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Related link: Vilified QC in Bellfield case ‘just doing his job’
