‘A “draconian” practice that stops crime victims challenging last-minute decisions to drop their cases is leading to miscarriages of justice and must urgently be reformed, campaigners say.’
The Guardian, 21st September 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A controversial decision to refuse refunds to wrongly convicted prisoners who were charged for bed and board while in jail was made in part to save money, the Guardian has learned.’
The Guardian, 21st August 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The efforts of the chancellor Rachel Reeves to get control of Britain’s finances are being hampered by a massive £47bn bill in outstanding compensation claims which could balloon even further, The Independent can reveal. Analysis of a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) showed £84bn has been pledged by previous governments, with 12 compensation schemes for injustice, cover-ups and negligence.’
The Independent, 11th August 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Victims of historic miscarriages of justice have been told by the government they must have “bed and board” costs for the time they spent in prison deducted from their compensation payments.’
BBC News, 9th August 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A report on the Criminal Cases Review Commission’s handling of the Andrew Malkinson case has laid bare “a catalogue of failures”, finding that he could have been exonerated almost a decade earlier.’
The Guardian, 18th July 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Largely thanks to the prime-time ITV dramatization, the Post Office Horizon scandal has brought to light the serious shortcomings in the way the Post Office handled the private prosecution of sub-postmasters. Whilst this has shocked the nation, unfortunately the actions of the Post Office in its role as prosecutor comes as no surprise for those with experience of public prosecutors.’
Mills & Reeve, 26th June 2024
Source: www.mills-reeve.com
‘On 11 June 2024, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights handed down its judgment in Nealon and Hallam v United Kingdom. The case is important for two reasons: firstly, because it provides a long-awaited clarification of the law relating to the presumption of innocence under Article 6 of the Convention; secondly, because it allows Strasbourg to perform a “return shot” after UK courts were very hostile to its earlier judgments on this issue.’
Constitutional Law Association, 13th June 2024
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘Most victims of miscarriages of justice will still be denied compensation in Britain after the European court of human rights ruled the government’s test for payouts was lawful.’
The Guardian, 11th June 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘For the first time, by way of the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act (“the Act”), Parliament has legislated to quash criminal convictions. In this post I will argue that, no matter how understandable, indeed laudable, the intention behind this legislation, in its haste to offer a speedy and comprehensive correction to mass injustice, Parliament has crossed a constitutional line and ventured into territory that is properly the preserve of the courts.’
UK Constitutional Law Association , 3rd June 2024
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘The Conservatives and Labour have held talks to work out what outstanding legislation can be rushed through parliament to become law before the Commons closes for the general election.’
The Independent, 23rd May 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Andrew Malkinson says he could have been spared “20 years of darkness and despair” if the jury system had not been changed to allow majority verdicts.’
The Guardian, 9th May 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘At least 56 miscarriages of justice have occurred in cases in England and Wales where the jury was split, according to a charity, which says jury unanimity should be reintroduced to safeguard against wrongful criminal convictions.’
The Guardian, 7th May 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Interns have been given the job of weeding out potential wrongful convictions for rape and murder in a major case review prompted by Andrew Malkinson’s exoneration, the Guardian can reveal.’
The Guardian, 2nd May 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A devoted father with a zest for life, he was given an indeterminate sentence in 2006. He is still locked up – and losing hope that he will ever be released.’
The Guardian, 1st May 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A panel has been told to re-examine the case of a woman hanged for the murder of her husband, two months after it rejected a bid for her to be pardoned.’
BBC News, 27th April 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘An estimated 736 people were prosecuted by the Post Office between 2000 and 2014, Horizon software having been first introduced in 1999, and responsibility for prosecutions, in all but exceptional cases, being handed over to the Crown Prosecution Service in 2014. Many of those prosecuted were imprisoned, 4 committed suicide and all faced the stigma and stress of criminal prosecution. The Court of Appeal in Hamilton v Post Office Limited [2021] EWCA Crim 577 quashed 39 convictions (of the 42 appellants) on the basis that there had been an abuse of process on two grounds: that a fair trial was impossible and that it was an affront to public conscience for the appellants to have faced prosecution. This judgment followed the Post Office Group Litigation in the High Court before Fraser J known as Bates and Others v The Post Office Limited [2019] EWHC 3408.’
Guildhall Chambers, 11th March 2024
Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk
‘A man jailed for life for the murder of four British soldiers nearly 50 years ago has had his convictions quashed by Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal.’
BBC News, 22nd April 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘MPs have been accused of “political cowardice” for failing to back the resentencing of thousands of prisoners trapped under abolished indefinite jail terms.’
The Independent, 20th April 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission has offered an “unreserved apology” to Andrew Malkinson for its handling of his case after he spent 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit.’
The Guardian, 18th April 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The families of two schoolgirls murdered in 1986 have received an apology from Sussex Police over mistakes in its investigations.’
BBC News, 18th April 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
© Inner Temple Library 2024