‘Online predator’ who stabbed boy, 14, to death faced sexual assault charges – The Guardian

Posted January 12th, 2015 in internet, murder, news, sexual grooming, sexual offences by sally

‘A teenager who stabbed to death a 14-year-old boy he met while playing online video games was also accused of sexually assaulting another boy, it can be reported for the first time.’

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The Guardian, 12th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High Court: not “in best interests” of officer who used cocaine to sue police for psychiatric injury – Litigation Futures

‘A High Court judge has said it was not in the “best interests” of a former undercover police officer who used cocaine “on more than one occasion” to sue his police force for psychiatric injury.’

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Litigation Futures, 12th January 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.co.uk

Neither compassionate nor humane – Legal Aid Handbook

‘The first two reported cases of the year in the Family Court are both concerned with the difficulties litigants – not to mention practitioners, and the courts – are now faced with when trying to navigate the legal aid system. The first – about which we posted here – concerned an unrepresented father who couldn’t get legal aid despite needing to cross-examine a child who had accused him of abuse, leading to the court to order that he be funded outside the legal aid scheme.’

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Legal Aid Handbook, 11th January 2015

Source: www.legalaidhandbook.com

A worrying new anti-terror law is sneaking through Parliament – The Guardian

‘As the world’s press and public stand vigil in support of Charlie Hebdo and the families of the victims of Wednesday’s attack, we wake this morning to reports that our security services are under pressure and seeking new powers. The spectre of the Communications Data Bill is again evoked. These reports mirror renewed commitments yesterday to new counter-terrorism measures for the EU and in France.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Asking for relief – NearlyLegal

‘This is a housing case, but the procedural issue in this decision is only tangentially related to that. Nonetheless, it is a matter worth noting.’

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NearlyLegal, 10th January 2015

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

First ombudsman decisions in pension liberation cases show need for a change in the law, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 12th, 2015 in complaints, news, ombudsmen, pensions by sally

‘The Pensions Ombudsman has dismissed complaints by three pension scheme members who were prevented from transferring their savings into suspected liberation schemes, but has warned that “mere suspicion” is not enough reason for a provider to block a transfer request.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th January 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

49 year-old Rugby player’s ban doubled to 20 years for assaulting referee’ – Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted January 12th, 2015 in appeals, assault, disciplinary procedures, news, sport by sally

On 29 September 2014 the RFU Appeal Panel, chaired by Sir James Dingemans, handed down judgment in RFU v Barry Lockwood.

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Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 12th January 2015

Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org

Commercial property: dilapidations liability – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 12th, 2015 in damages, dilapidations, landlord & tenant, leases, news, repairs by sally

‘As the average lease length decreases, a review of dilapidations liability by the Court of Appeal is timely. Dilapidations are the repair works which have not been undertaken by the tenant, in breach of the terms of the lease.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 12th January 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Neuberger and Dyson to head seven-judge panel for Coventry – Litigation Futures

Posted January 12th, 2015 in appeals, banking, child abuse, costs, fees, fraud, human rights, injunctions, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The president of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, and Lord Dyson, the Master of the Rolls, will head a seven-judge panel for the eagerly awaited Coventry costs hearing on 9 February, it has been announced.’

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Litigation Futures, 9th January 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Hot, hot, hot – NearlyLegal

Posted January 12th, 2015 in appeals, benefits, housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, tribunals by sally

‘Here is an interesting First Tier Tribunal bedroom tax appeal decision from Bexleyheath. [Decision notice]. It is a decision made after the Fife Upper Tribunal decision, but upholds the tenant’s appeal on the basis, in part, that the room is inadequately sized to be a bedroom, as well as being just too damn hot.’

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NearlyLegal, 11th January 2015

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Disabled tenants to challenge bedroom tax in supreme court – The Guardian

‘A legal case to be heard at the supreme court will decide whether the government’s housing benefit regulations – the bedroom tax – discriminates unfairly against disabled adults. The ruling could have consequences for hundreds of thousands of people.’

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The Guardian, 10th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Milestone tax breaks’ idea for married couples who stay together longer – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 12th, 2015 in children, cohabitation, judges, marriage, news, taxation by sally

‘Former High Court family judge Sir Paul Coleridge calls for couples to be given extra tax breaks after passing landmark wedding anniversaries to encourage family stability.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th January 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Men jailed over Haringey street shootout – BBC News

Posted January 12th, 2015 in attempted murder, attempts, firearms, murder, news, police, sentencing by sally

‘An armed officer who risked his life to protect the public during a shootout in north London has been commended for his “courage and resolve”.’

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BBC News, 9th January 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Fake cancer’ woman sentenced for defrauding donors – The Guardian

Posted January 12th, 2015 in cancer, fraud, news, sentencing, suspended sentences by sally

‘A young woman who defrauded friends and strangers out of thousands of pounds by claiming she had terminal cancer has avoided an immediate jail term.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Chris Grayling spends £72,000 of taxpayers’ money to defend ‘unlawful’ prison book ban – The Independent

Posted January 12th, 2015 in budgets, fees, news, prisons, solicitors by sally

‘The Justice Secretary spent £72,000 of taxpayers’ money in an attempt to maintain his ban on inmates receiving books in prison from visitors.’

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The Independent, 10th January 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Gloucester hospital killer Ryan Matthews given whole life order – BBC News

Posted January 12th, 2015 in inquiries, mental health, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A convicted murderer who stabbed to death a worker at a mental health unit has been sentenced to a whole life order.’

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BBC News, 9th December 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Call for publication of review into man who killed himself after benefits cut – The Guardian

Posted January 12th, 2015 in benefits, disabled persons, disclosure, inquiries, mental health, news, reports, suicide by sally

‘The sister of a partially sighted man who killed himself after his benefits were cut is calling on the UK government to publish details of its review into his case, one of 60 internal investigations of suicides linked to benefit changes it has carried out since 2012.’

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The Guardian, 11th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Peers seek to limit law on assisted dying – The Independent

Posted January 12th, 2015 in assisted suicide, bills, news, parliament, time limits by sally

‘A coalition of cross-party peers has moved to water down proposed legislation that would let the terminally ill request and receive help to end their lives.’

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The Independent, 11th January 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk