Wife and daughter given life sentence for murder – The Independent
“A retired tax inspector has been jailed for life for murdering her husband who disappeared without trace 11 years ago.”
The Independent, 3rd April 2012
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Category: news
5th Anniversary
This week Current Awareness celebrates its 5th anniversary. Here are a few facts about the blog:
- our first ever post in April 2007 was about legal aid
- we now have a searchable archive of over 23,000 posts
- all posts are indexed using a controlled vocabulary: there are now over 1,000 categories
- over 4,000 people subscribe via email or RSS
- the blog receives over 20,000 visits per month
Thank you for your support.
We welcome your comments smclaren@innertemple.org.uk
Union pickets seek to quash 40-year-old convictions – The Guardian
“A group of trade union pickets who were jailed nearly 40 years ago in a famous case are seeking to have their convictions overturned on the grounds that the then Conservative government interfered with the judicial process.”
The Guardian, 3rd April 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Judgment over extradition case is victory for open justice – The Guardian
“Three senior judges have issued a groundbreaking judgment that strengthens the media’s right to see documents used in criminal cases.”
The Guardian, 3rd April 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Real time communications monitoring legislation would need privacy safeguards to comply with EU laws, expert says – OUT-LAW.com
“New legislation that would enable a UK intelligence agency to monitor data from internet communications in real time without a warrant could be challenged at EU level unless other privacy safeguards limit the scope of that monitoring, an expert has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 3rd April 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Theresa May defends email surveillance plans – The Guardian
“The home secretary has defended government plans to extend the powers of the security services to monitor the public’s email, telephone calls and social media communications against growing criticism, insisting they are vital to catch paedophiles, terrorists and other criminals.”
The Guardian, 3rd April 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Nuclear providers to be liable for up to €1.2bn damage, Government confirms – OUT-LAW.com
“Nuclear operators are to be liable for damages amounting up to seven times the current limit in the event of a nuclear incident, the Government has confirmed.”
OUT-LAW.com, 3rd April 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
There but for the grace of God? : a consideration of recent fatal road traffic cases – Zenith Chambers
“Since 18th August 2008 there has been an offence on the statute books which effectively criminalises what in many cases amount to little more than minor errors of judgement; this offence carries with it the prospect of the alleged offender being sent to prison for anything up to five years. Section 2B of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (inserted by the Road Safety Act 2006) introduced motorists to the offence of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving. It was undoubtedly enacted because of increased public (and tabloid) disquiet about the previous alternative to the more serious offence of causing death by dangerous driving (s1 RTA 1988); this was, of course, the much less serious charge of careless and inconsiderate driving (s3 RTA 1988), which carried only a financial penalty and a discretionary disqualification from driving. Since the implementation of s2B RTA 1988, however, the prosecuting authorities have become increasingly keen to charge drivers with this offence; indeed, matters now appear to have reached the point where their default position seems to be that simply because a fatality arises from a road traffic collision, then a prosecution must follow, irrespective of where the fault for the collision lies. The exercise of any proper judgement as to whether it is in the public interest to pursue a prosecution in
many such cases seems to have completely evaporated.”
Full story (PDF)
Zenith Chambers, 27th March 2012
Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk
Bonfire of ‘dead wood statutes’ to claim 800 obsolete laws – Daily Telegraph
“A law passed in 1696 to raise funds for the rebuilding of St Paul’s Cathedral after the Great Fire of London is one of 800 obsolete Acts due to be wiped from the statute book this summer.”
Daily Telegraph, 2nd April 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
The New Practice Direction on Insolvency Proceedings (February 2012) – Hardwicke Chambers
“On 23 February 2012, with surprisingly little fanfare, the Chancellor of the High Court issued a new Insolvency Practice Direction (PD 2012). PD 2012 came into force with immediate effect. It not only replaces the existing practice direction (PD 1999) but also ‘all previous Practice Directions, Practice Statements and Practice Notes’ relating to insolvency proceedings.”
Hardwicke Chambers, 29th March 2012
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
Three Articles on Local Government Law – 11 KBW
Local Government Law Update: 28th March (PDF)
Local Government Law Update: 30th March (PDF)
Local Government Law Update: 2nd April (PDF)
11 KBW, April 2012
Source: www.11kbw.com
TUC warns over unfair dismissal law time change – BBC News
“Increasing the time before workers are protected from unfair dismissal from one year to two years could affect 2.7 million people, union bosses have said.”
BBC News, 3rd April 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
New state of the art courts – Ministry of Justice
“Two new state of the art magistrates’ courts with first class facilities open for business in Chelmsford and Colchester today [2 April].”
Ministry of Justice, 2nd April 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Public Sector Equality Duty: The Latest Guidance from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission – 11 KBW
Public Sector Equality Duty: The Latest Guidance fromthe Equalities and Human Rights Commission (PDF)
11 KBW, 28th March 2012
Source: www.11kbw.com
SFO must publish more information about bribery settlement cases, report says – OUT-LAW.com
“Criticism over the lack of detail that has emerged from corruption case settlements only serves to reinforce the need for deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) to be introduced in the UK, an expert has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 2nd April 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
The Employers’ Liability Policy Trigger Litigation – 4 New Square
“The Supreme Court handed down judgment in the Employers’ Liability Policy Trigger Litigation on 28 March 2012. The appeals of the run-off insurers on the construction of ‘disease contracted’ were dismissed and the appeals of the insureds and Zurich against the construction of ‘sustaining injury’ were allowed. The result is that employers’ liability policies which are written on a ‘sustained’ or ‘contracted’ basis will, in mesothelioma cases, respond by reference to the date of exposure rather than the date of the tumour. The Court was divided on a subsidiary question of causation as to the application of the ‘special rule’ in Fairchild. Lord Phillips would have held that none of the policies responded but the majority was firmly against his view.”
Full story (PDF)
4 New Square, 28th March 2012
Source: www.4newsquare.com
Law centres have always struggled to survive – now they must adapt or die – The Guardian
“Legal aid and local authority cuts mean law centres are in danger. Islington and Rochdale law centres are fighting back.”
The Guardian, 2nd April 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Racing circuit groundsman awarded £2m damages – The Independent
“A racing circuit groundsman who was brain-damaged in a freak work accident has been awarded more than £2 million damages.”
The Independent, 2nd April 2012
Source: www.independent.co.uk
