Judgment reserved in murder appeal as forensic evidence divides experts – The Guardian

Posted December 10th, 2010 in appeals, evidence, forensic science, murder, news by sally

“Scientists split over fibres that prosecution says links jailed office worker to home of widow killed during break-in.”

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The Guardian, 9th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Roman Abramovich sues Daily Mirror – The Guardian

Posted December 10th, 2010 in defamation, news by sally

“Chelsea FC owner takes legal action over ‘inflammatory’ story that manager Carlo Ancelotti had three weeks to save his job.”

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The Guardian, 10th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ricky Hatton settles £1.4m wages claim – The Independent

Posted December 10th, 2010 in compensation, contracts, news, remuneration, sport by sally

“Ex-boxer Ricky Hatton has settled a £1.4 million claim for unpaid wages from his former trainer. Hatton today reached an undisclosed but ‘mutually acceptable’ deal with Billy Graham on the third day of a hearing at Manchester’s Civil Justice Centre.”

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The Independent, 8th December 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Secretive court opens doors to journalists – The Independent

Posted December 10th, 2010 in Court of Protection, news, reporting restrictions by sally

“One of Britain’s most secretive courts opened itself to public scrutiny yesterday after a High Court judge lifted reporting restrictions on work done by a hitherto-closed corner of the British justice system.  The Court of Protection oversees cases involving vulnerable people who lack the mental capacity to make key decisions about their life, such as brain-damaged soldiers or people with Alzheimer’s. But its workings were conducted entirely behind closed doors until a successful legal challenge by The Independent earlier this year.”

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The Independent, 9th December 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Andy Coulson phone-hacking investigation to be dropped – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 10th, 2010 in interception, news, no case to answer, prosecutions, telecommunications by sally

“The Daily Telegraph can disclose that detectives are to be formally advised by the Crown Prosecution Service that Mr Coulson and other former and current employees of the tabloid newspaper have no criminal case to answer.”

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Daily Telegraph, 10th December 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gloucestershire coroner’s law practice investigated – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2010 in accounts, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

“The Cheltenham law firm of Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore has been closed following concerns over the way it was being run.”

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BBC News, 9th December 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rogue traders sentenced over East Midlands £1.5m fraud – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2010 in conspiracy, construction industry, fraud, news, sentencing by sally

“A gang of rogue builders who conned hundreds across the East Midlands with substandard work have been sentenced.”

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BBC News, 8th December 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pensioner cleared of murdering wife in mercy killing – The Guardian

Posted December 9th, 2010 in diminished responsibility, euthanasia, homicide, murder, news by sally

“A pensioner who smothered his 75-year-old wife in a “mercy killing” has been jailed for two years.”

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The Guardian, 9th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Treasury’s plans for tax avoidance rule sound like fantasy – The Guardian

Posted December 9th, 2010 in news, tax avoidance by sally

“Ambitions to deter avoidance while keeping businesses and taxpayers happy are likely to prove impossible.”

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The Guardian, 9th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council Welcomes Government’s ‘Sensible and Rational’ Approach to Sentencing Reform – The Bar Council

Posted December 9th, 2010 in news, prisons, rehabilitation, sentencing by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has welcomed the publication of the Government’s ‘sensible and rational’ Green Paper entitled Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders, but has warned that the Government must look at the system in the round, and protect against unintended consequences.”

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The Bar Council, 8th December 2010

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Out of court disposals warning – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 9th, 2010 in cautions, news, penalties, police by sally

“Too many cases are being dealt with by out of court disposals where the police are acting as prosecutor and judge, a Court of Appeal judge said last week.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th December 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Childless couples win the right to pay surrogate mothers – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 9th, 2010 in compensation, news, surrogacy by sally

“Childless couples will be able to pay surrogate mothers large sums of money to have babies for them, following a landmark High Court ruling.”

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Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Secretive court opens doors to journalists – The Independent

Posted December 9th, 2010 in Court of Protection, disabled persons, media, news by sally

“One of Britain’s most secretive courts opened itself to public scrutiny yesterday after a High Court judge lifted reporting restrictions on work done by a hitherto-closed corner of the British justice system.”

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The Independent, 9th December 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Benefits repayment case upheld by Supreme Court – BBC News

Posted December 9th, 2010 in benefits, mistake, news by sally

“The government has lost a legal battle to recover millions of pounds in overpaid benefits.”

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BBC News, 8th December 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Nativity photos not against law, says data watchdog – BBC News

Posted December 8th, 2010 in children, data protection, news, photography by sally

“Parents should be free to photograph their children in nativity plays, the Information Commissioner has said.”

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BBC News, 8th December 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Will mediation replace solicitors in divorce proceedings? – BBC News

Posted December 8th, 2010 in dispute resolution, divorce, legal aid, news by sally

“Divorce can be a highly complex issue and many people going through it feel legal representation is vital. Until now, legal aid has been available to fund it, but new legislation means it will no longer be available in England and Wales.”

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BBC News, 8th December 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sentencing reform to focus on reoffending – The Independent

Posted December 8th, 2010 in community service, news, persistent offenders, rehabilitation, reports, sentencing by sally

“Thousands of offenders will avoid jail under an overhaul of sentencing powers that will focus on cutting reoffending.”

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The Independent, 7th December 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Related link: Sentencing and rehabilitation: government proposals for reform

Woman who concealed stillborn babies avoids jail – The Independent

Posted December 8th, 2010 in concealing birth, news, sentencing by sally

“A woman who concealed the births of four stillborn babies and kept three of them in her wardrobe for two decades escaped jail today.”

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The Independent, 7th December 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Family anger at IPCC and police after failings that led to mother’s murder – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2010 in complaints, criminal records, domestic violence, murder, news, police by sally

“Relatives of Maria Stubbings plan action after Essex force failed to inform mother that her new partner was a convicted killer.”

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The Guardian, 7th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Should justice be televised? – Legal Week

Posted December 7th, 2010 in criminal justice, media, news, public interest by sally

“The head of Sky News has argued in a new Guardian article that justice must be televised as allowing TV cameras in court would help restore public faith in criminal proceedings.”

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Legal Week, 6th December 2010

Source: www.legalweek.com