Fresh inquest may shed light on mystery Deepcut shootings – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2016 in armed forces, evidence, forensic science, human rights, inquests, inquiries, news, suicide by tracey

‘Independent inquiry into recruit Cheryl James’s death in 1995 is “milestone” in history of unexplained barracks deaths.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Transcript of the Lord Chief Justice’s Annual Press Conference 2015 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, held his annual press conference on Tuesday, 17 November, 2015, at the Royal Courts of Justice.’

Full transcript

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 17th November 2015

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Forensic review of sexual assault cases ordered after poor practice concerns – The Guardian

Posted September 17th, 2015 in criminal justice, evidence, forensic science, inquiries, news, sexual offences by tracey

‘The forensic science regulator is reviewing a series of sexual assault cases to examine whether poor evidence gathering at crime scenes may be compromising criminal justice in the UK, she has told the Guardian.’

Full story

The Guardian, 17th September 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Departing forensic specialist highlights legal aid plight – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 26th, 2015 in budgets, forensic science, legal aid, news by sally

‘A forensic science specialist has paid tribute to solicitors working with a ‘decimated’ legal aid budget after announcing an exit from the UK market.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 25th August 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Unease over police trial of hi-tech DNA machines amid fears that civil liberties could be infringed – The Independent

Posted April 22nd, 2015 in contamination, detention, DNA, forensic science, news, police by sally

‘Police forces across the UK are trialling technology that allows officers to analyse DNA samples in custody suites, amid fears that civil liberties could be infringed and evidence compromised.’

Full story

The Independent, 21st April 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Streamlined forensic reporting – Park Square Barristers

Posted April 2nd, 2015 in evidence, forensic science, news, reports by sally

‘With ever-increasing cutbacks to our legal system, it’s of little surprise that the expensive area of forensic science has been targeted for cost reduction. As such, the introduction of streamlined forensic reporting (SFR) tries to introduce a more cost-effective response to the discovery of forensic material which might link a person to a crime scene.’

Full story

Park Square Barristers, 26th March 2015

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Justice watchdog sued by wrongly convicted man who spent 17 years in prison for attempted rape – The Independent

‘A man who spent 17 years in prison for attempted rape before having his conviction quashed on the basis of a DNA test is suing the miscarriage of justice watchdog for negligence. It is claimed the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) repeatedly failed to undertake forensic analysis of the victim’s clothing, instead relying on the assurances of the same police force that investigated the case.’

Full story

The Independent, 15th March 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judge to see forensics that point to Tower Hamlets vote fraud – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 2nd, 2015 in elections, expert witnesses, forensic science, fraud, news by sally

‘Evidence from an independent forensic scientist will form the centrepiece of a rare election fraud trial opening at the High Court on Monday.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Patrick Curran jailed for life for murdering Joan Roddam – BBC News

‘A man with a fetish for older women has been jailed for life for the murder of a pensioner in her Cornwall home. Patrick Curran was 27 when he strangled 74-year-old widow Joan Roddam at her home in Delabole, in November 2003.’

Full story

BBC News, 27th January 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government on Trial – BBC Law in Action

‘The Appeal Court has allowed a Libyan man to proceed with legal action against the British government, despite the government’s claim that the case could damage relations with the United States. Joshua Rozenberg discusses the implications.’

Listen

BBC Law in Action, 4th November 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Phasing in new legislation – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The major piece of criminal law legislation for 2014 is the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act. It has been brought gradually into force throughout the year.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd November 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

2014 Kalisher Lecture on the future of forensic science in criminal trials by the Lord Chief Justice – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted October 17th, 2014 in criminal justice, expert witnesses, forensic science, speeches by tracey

‘The Rt. Hon. The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales gave the 2014 CBA Kalisher Lecture on the 14 October 2014.’

Full speech

Judiciary of England and Wales, 16th October 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Are juries being blinded by science? – The Guardian

Posted October 15th, 2014 in criminal justice, expert witnesses, forensic science, juries, Law Commission, news by sally

‘Expert witnesses are being subjected to greater scrutiny by the criminal courts, despite the government’s refusal to implement safeguards recommended by its own law reform advisers.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lie detector tests introduced to monitor released sex offenders – The Guardian

‘Lie detector tests monitoring the behaviour of released sex offenders across England and Wales have begun this week, amid calls for the technology to be used more widely in police investigations.’

Full story

The Guardian, 8th August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Regina (Nunn) v Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary – WLR Daily

Posted June 20th, 2014 in appeals, disclosure, evidence, forensic science, law reports, murder, Supreme Court by tracey

Regina (Nunn) v Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary: [2014] UKSC 37; [2014] WLR (D) 265

‘Where, after a defendant’s trial had ended in his conviction, material came to light which might cast doubt on the safety of the conviction, the prosecutors’ duty of disclosure required him to disclose that material to the defendant, unless there were good reason not to do so, and, where there was a real prospect that further inquiry might reveal such material, to make that inquiry. There was, however, no indefinitely continuing duty on police or prosecutors to respond to whatever inquiries the defendant might make for access to case materials to allow re-investigation.’

WLR Daily, 18th June 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Supreme Court rejects Kevin Nunn’s evidence release plea – BBC News

Posted June 18th, 2014 in appeals, disclosure, evidence, forensic science, murder, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘A man serving life in prison for murdering his ex-girlfriend has lost his fight to have forensic exhibits retested.’

Full story

BBC News, 18th June 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

R (on the application of Nunn) (Appellant) v Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary and another (Respondents) – Supreme Court

R (on the application of Nunn) (Appellant) v Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary and another (Respondents) [2014] UKSC 37 (YouTube)

Supreme Court, 18th June 2014

Source: www.youtube.com/user/UKSupremeCourt

Kevin Nunn: Judges to rule over fresh forensic tests eight years after murder conviction – The Independent

Posted June 18th, 2014 in appeals, disclosure, evidence, forensic science, murder, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘A salesman serving life in prison for murdering his former girlfriend will today find out the result of his Supreme Court fight to have key forensic exhibits retested.’

Full story

The Independent, 18th June 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lord Leveson warns against ‘CSI effect’ in barring crime solving – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 27th, 2014 in forensic science, judges, news, speeches, witnesses by sally

‘Lord Leveson has warned against people believing crimes are solved just by forensic scientists and not by people coming forward, like they are on television’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Legal aid cuts leave family courts in chaos, experts say – The Guardian

‘Cuts in legal aid are creating chaos in the family courts, according to legal experts, who warn that the resulting delays are having a serious impact on the children of warring parents.’

Full story

The Guardian, 29th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk