Killer nurse Lucy Letby in final bid to appeal convictions – The Independent

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in appeals, attempted murder, children, imprisonment, juries, murder, news, nurses, retrials by michael

‘Lawyers for Letby will ask senior judges for permission to bring an appeal against all her convictions at the hearing in London provisionally listed for April 25, a judiciary spokeswoman confirmed on Friday [23rd February]’

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The Independent, 23rd February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Removing UK climate protesters’ defence ‘could erode right to trial by jury’ – The Guardian

‘A UK government attempt to remove one of the last remaining defences for climate protesters would be a slippery slope to the erosion of the constitutional right to trial by jury, the court of appeal was told on Wednesday.’

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The Guardian, 21st February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

UN expert condemns UK crackdown on environmental protest – The Guardian

‘A severe crackdown on environmental protest in Britain with “draconian” new laws, excessive restrictions on courtroom evidence and the use of civil injunctions is having a chilling impact on fundamental freedoms, the United Nations special rapporteur has said.’

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The Guardian, 23rd January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Majority verdicts in England and Wales brought in ‘partly for racial and class reasons’ – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2024 in bias, charities, criminal justice, equality, juries, miscarriage of justice, news by sally

‘The introduction of majority verdicts in criminal trials in England and Wales was partly motivated by a desire to dilute the influence of minority ethnic people and the labouring classes serving on juries, according to research.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Trudi Warner reveals the dark secret of English courts: juries do have the right to follow their consciences – The Guardian

Posted September 27th, 2023 in climate change, criminal justice, demonstrations, freedom of expression, juries, news by sally

‘The solicitor general taking action against a climate protester who held up a sign outside court raises a vital issue for criminal justice.’

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The Guardian, 27th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fears over right to protest after woman with sign at climate trial prosecuted – The Guardian

‘Civil liberty campaigners have warned that the prosecution of a woman for holding up a placard about the rights of jurors outside a court is part of the government’s increasing attacks on the right to protest.’

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The Guardian, 19th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sexual assault trial in Sheffield collapses after juror falls asleep – The Guardian

Posted August 22nd, 2023 in assault, evidence, juries, news, sexual offences by sally

‘A sexual assault trial in Sheffield has collapsed after a member of the jury fell asleep and missed “important evidence”, it has been reported.’

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The Guardian, 21st August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Contempt threat against climate activist may undermine trial by jury, lawyers say – The Guardian

‘Leading lawyers have accused the government of undermining trial by jury after a climate activist was told she faces contempt proceedings over holding a sign outside court.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Kevin Spacey cleared of sexually assaulting four men – The Guardian

Posted July 27th, 2023 in assault, juries, news, sexual offences by sally

‘Kevin Spacey wept and said he was humbled after being cleared of sexual assault in one of the UK’s most high-profile #MeToo trials.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jury discharged in trial of UK asylum seeker facing manslaughter charges – The Guardian

Posted July 27th, 2023 in asylum, homicide, juries, news by sally

‘The jury in the trial of an asylum seeker accused of manslaughter over the deaths of four people who were in a small boat with him during his journey across the Channel has been discharged.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Reality Of Rape Trials Is Grim For Survivors – The System Must Change – Each Other

Posted June 27th, 2023 in Crown Prosecution Service, evidence, juries, news, rape, victims, witnesses by sally

‘On Monday 19 June, the Ministry of Justice announced that it will be focusing on building trust between rape victims and the system – in order to reduce dropout rates before a trial.’

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Each Other, 23rd June 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

Could Juryless Trials Improve Rape Conviction Rates? – Each Other

Posted June 13th, 2023 in consultations, juries, Law Commission, news, rape, trial without jury by sally

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales is considering whether juryless trials could help improve rape conviction rates. All rape and attempted rape trials in England and Wales are currently held before a jury of 12 people, who listen to the evidence and decide unanimously whether the accused is innocent or guilty.’

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Each Other, 12th June 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

Juror jailed for causing rape trial to collapse by researching defendant online – The Guardian

Posted May 26th, 2023 in imprisonment, internet, juries, news, rape, sentencing, trials by tracey

‘An “unashamed and unrepentant” juror who spent two decades in the police has been jailed for six months after causing a rape trial to collapse by researching the defendant online.’

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The Guardian, 25th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Use of non-jury trial system to continue in NI – BBC News

Posted April 26th, 2023 in consultations, juries, news, Northern Ireland, terrorism, trial without jury, trials by sally

‘Non-jury trials will continue to be used in Northern Ireland, with the secretary of state saying the move is “regrettable” but necessary due to the security situation.’

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BBC News, 25th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Research Demonstrates Juries Convict in 58% of Rape Cases, on Average – Pump Court Chambers

Posted April 13th, 2023 in chambers articles, juries, news, prosecutions, rape, statistics by sally

‘Over the period 2007 to 2021, the jury conviction rate for all rape charges stood at an average of 58%, with a high of 75% in 2021, according to new research published in the Criminal Law Review[1]. In 2007, the jury conviction rate was 55%. This research was commissioned by senior judiciary following public concerns that the jury conviction rates for rape were extremely low, and analysed 5,623,800 criminal charges from January 2007 to December 2021, not just including sexual offences.’

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Pump Court Chambers, 9th March 2023

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Climate activist who allegedly held sign directed at jurors may be charged – The Guardian

‘A climate activist who allegedly held a sign outside court telling jurors they were entitled to find protesters not guilty based on their conscience may still face a criminal charge.’

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The Guardian, 4th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court restrictions on climate protesters ‘deeply concerning’, say leading lawyers – The Guardian

‘Restrictions placed on non-violent climate protesters who have been tried in criminal courts were part of a “deeply concerning” “pincer movement” narrowing their rights to free expression, leading lawyers have told the Guardian.’

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The Guardian, 8th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jurors trying Insulate Britain protesters fail to reach verdict – The Guardian

‘Three climate protesters who stopped traffic to bring rush hour chaos to the City of London face a possible retrial.’

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The Guardian, 2nd March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Juries in rape cases more likely to convict than acquit – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 22nd, 2023 in criminal justice, juries, news, rape, sexual offences, statistics by tracey

‘Juries in rape cases are more likely to convict than acquit a defendant, according to landmark research analysing nearly six million charges and every verdict reached between 2007 and 2021. The research, conducted by UCL’s Professor Cheryl Thomas, was commissioned by HM Judiciary after a petition was submitted to parliament calling for all jurors in rape trials to complete compulsory training about rape. The petition, signed by 16,445 people, stated that research showed jurors accepted commonly held rape myths, resulting in many incorrect not guilty verdicts.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 21st February 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Four found guilty of jury tampering in Warwick drugs trial – BBC News

‘Four people have been found guilty of trying to fix the trial of a drugs kingpin.’

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BBC News, 8th December 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk