Harsher sentences for murderers of transgender and disabled people: a step in the right direction but greater reform is needed – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted December 13th, 2011 in disabled persons, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“On hearing of the Ministry of Justice’s plan to raise the starting point for the minimum term in murder cases where victims are transgender or disabled, you would be forgiven for expressing surprise that there was an existing disparity. We pride ourselves on being alive to equality and here is a glaring and shameful example of imbalance to the detriment of a vulnerable minority.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 13th December 2011

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

A human right to object to war – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 13th, 2011 in appeals, conscientious objection, courts martial, human rights, news, war by sally

“Moral objections to the UK’s involvement in Afghanistan do not constitute a defence to an insubordination charge, the Court Martial Appeal Court has ruled. The appellant was not entitled to disobey a lawful command on the ground of conscientious objection.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 13th December 2011

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Howard League urges ban on detaining under 14s in police cells – BBC News

Posted December 13th, 2011 in children, detention, news by sally

“Police should be banned from detaining children under 14 in police cells overnight, campaigners have said.”

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BBC News, 13th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted December 13th, 2011 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Quest Advisors Limited Sharriba Ltd v McFeely & Anor [2011] EWCA Civ 1517 (09 December 2011)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Green v Eadie & Ors [2011] EWHC B24 (Ch) (18 November 2011)

Bezier Acquisitions Ltd, Re [2011] EWHC 3299 (Ch) (12 December 2011)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Cooper & Anor v Turrell [2011] EWHC 3269 (QB) (12 December 2011)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Five Oceans Salvage Ltd v Wenzhou Timber Group Company [2011] EWHC 3282 (Comm) (23 November 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

Fresh battle looms between European human rights court and UK – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 13th, 2011 in cross-examination, evidence, human rights, news, Supreme Court, witnesses by sally

“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.”

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Daily Telegraph, 13th December 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bookseller Ahmed Faraz found guilty of terror offences – BBC News

Posted December 13th, 2011 in news, terrorism by sally

“A bookseller from Birmingham has been convicted of possessing and distributing material that prosecutors said ‘primed people for terrorism’.”

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BBC News, 12th December 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Age of criminal responsibility is too low, say brain scientists – The Guardian

Posted December 13th, 2011 in children, criminal responsibility, news, reports by sally

“The age of criminal responsibility in England, Wales and Northern Ireland could be ‘unreasonably low’ given the emerging understanding of how slowly the brains of children mature, according to a report by the Royal Society. Widespread differences between individuals also mean that the cut-off age at which children are deemed fit to stand trial, at 10 years old, might not be justifiable in all cases.”

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The Guardian, 13th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Draft proposals for new data protection regime include ‘draconian provisions’, expert says – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 13th, 2011 in data protection, EC law, news by sally

“Many proposals under consideration for the make-up of a new data protection regime in Europe are “incredibly draconian” and will create extra burdens on compliant businesses, an expert has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th December 2011

Source: www.out-law.com