DPP publishes interim policy on prosecuting assisted suicide – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted September 23rd, 2009 in assisted suicide, Crown Prosecution Service, news by sally

“Launching his interim policy on prosecuting cases of assisted suicide today, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, called for public participation in a 12-week consultation on the factors he has identified which will be taken into account when considering whether prosecutions will be brought for this offence.”

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Crown Prosecution Service, 23rd September 2009

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Bar Council Urges Profession to ‘Address Its Future’ – The Bar Council

Posted September 23rd, 2009 in barristers, news by sally

“With the extended deadline for comments on 9th October 2009 in view, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Bar, together with the Circuit Leaders, have today written to all members of the Bar urging them to respond to the Bar Standards Board’s recent consultation on the Structure of Self-Employed Practice. The outcome of the BSB’s consultation exercise could have very wide-ranging implications for the self-employed Bar and the business structures in which they practise. The letter urges all barristers to respond to the BSB’s consultation paper, stating that ‘at the heart of this matter are the likely future changes to the way in which barristers practise…it is of the utmost importance that the Bar now addresses its future and engages in the debate on these fundamental and historic issues’.”

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The Bar Council, 22nd September 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Drink-drive charge judge resigns – BBC News

Posted September 23rd, 2009 in drunk in charge, judges, news by sally

“A judge who was arrested for allegedly being drunk in charge of a car while on bail for a similar offence has resigned, the Ministry of Justice said.”

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BBC News, 23rd September 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Families may face assisted suicide charges, says DPP Keir Starmer – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 23rd, 2009 in assisted suicide, news by sally

“Family members who help loved ones to commit suicide when they are not suffering from a terminal illness are more likely to be prosecuted, Keir Starmer, Director of Public Prosecutions, has suggested.”

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd September 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Debbie Purdy’s husband helping her die – BBC News

Posted September 23rd, 2009 in assisted suicide, news by sally

“The publication of guidance on when prosecutions should be brought in assisted suicide cases represents a victory for multiple sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy.”

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BBC News, 23rd September 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Assisted suicide guidelines published on helping family end their lives – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 23rd, 2009 in assisted suicide, news by sally

“Guidelines will be published clarifying whether people in England and Wales are likely to be prosecuted if they help relatives or friends commit suicide.”

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd September 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

£5,000 illegal worker fine is like a £60 traffic penalty, says law chief – The Times

Posted September 23rd, 2009 in news by sally

“The Attorney-General faced fresh calls to resign last night after comparing her £5,000 fine for breaching the immigration law with a failure to pay the congestion charge.”

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The Times, 23rd September 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Attorney General Baroness Scotland fined £5,000 over illegal immigrant housekeeper – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 22nd, 2009 in attorney general, immigration, news, visas by sally

“Baroness Scotland, the Attorney General, has been fined £5,000 for employing an illegal immigrant as her housekeeper.”

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd September 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police changes target ‘honour’ crimes – The Independent

Posted September 22nd, 2009 in domestic violence, forced marriages, news by sally

“Hundreds more so-called honour crimes could be recorded by police under a drive to bring offenders to justice.”

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The Independent, 22nd September 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted September 22nd, 2009 in law reports by sally

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Haji-Ioannou & Ors v Frangos [2009] EWHC 2310 (QB) (21 September 2009)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Hoskin, R (on the application of) v Northampton Crown Court [2009] EWHC 2265 (Admin) (19 August 2009)

Source: www.bailii.org

Rape victims treatment reviewed – BBC News

Posted September 22nd, 2009 in news, police, rape, victims by sally

“A review of the treatment of rape victims by the police and other agencies in England and Wales has been ordered by ministers.”

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BBC News, 22nd September 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Attorney General ‘likely to be fined for employing illegal immigrant’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 22nd, 2009 in attorney general, immigration, news, visas by sally

“Baroness Scotland, the Attorney General, is likely to be fined for employing an illegal immigrant as her housekeeper, it has been claimed.”

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd September 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Top commercial lawyers forced to slash rates – The Times

Posted September 22nd, 2009 in news by sally

“The ‘magic circle’ has lost some of its power: average hourly rates for London’s top commercial lawyers fell by a third last year as law firms offered substantial discounts after competition intensified in the downturn.”

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The Times, 22nd September 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Mother guilty of daughter murders – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2009 in murder, news by sally

“A mother who stabbed her daughters to death at her home in Cambridgeshire has been found guilty of murdering them.”

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BBC News, 21st September 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man jailed for killing stranger – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2009 in diminished responsibility, homicide, mental health, news, sentencing by sally

“A man who stabbed a stranger to death in Manchester after hearing voices in his head has been jailed for life.”

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BBC News, 21st September 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Teacher jailed for sex with pupil – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2009 in news, school children, sentencing, sexual offences, teachers by sally

“A private school teacher who admitted having an unlawful relationship with a 15-year-old pupil has been jailed for 15 months at Southwark Crown Court.”

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BBC News, 21st September 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Blair ‘torture policy’ inquiry demanded – The Independent

Posted September 21st, 2009 in news, terrorism, torture by sally

“Tony Blair must not be allowed to become EU President while it is ‘unclear’ what his role was over allegations of British complicity in the torture of terror suspects, Liberal Democrats demanded today.”

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The Independent, 21st September 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Border agency powers ‘too much’ – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2009 in immigration, news by sally

“An immigration group has condemned UK Border Agency powers following a report of a raid on the home of a Tongan ex-employee of the attorney general.”

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BBC News, 21st September 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Legal highs’ drug ban criticised – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2009 in drug offences, news by sally

“A government campaign to tackle ‘legal highs’ has been described as ‘wholly inadequate’ by a victim’s family.”

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BBC News, 21st September 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted September 21st, 2009 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Raithley, R. v [2009] EWCA Crim 1854 (21 August 2009)

Smith, R. v [2009] EWCA Crim 1862 (01 September 2009)

Wellicome, R. v [2009] EWCA Crim 1861 (18 August 2009)

Fisher, R. v [2009] EWCA Crim 1852 (04 August 2009)

Source: www.bailii.org