Rapist of child fails in appeal – BBC News
“A rapist who photographed himself abusing a girl has failed in an attempt to reduce his jail term.”
BBC News, 4th December 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: news
Police U-turn on photographers and anti-terror laws – The Independent
“Police forces across the country have been warned to stop using anti-terror laws to question and search innocent photographers after The Independent forced senior officers to admit that the controversial legislation is being widely misused.”
The Independent, 5th December 2009
Source: www.independent.co.uk
MoD ‘did not want to breach privacy of detainee’ – The Independent
“The Government misled MPs over Britain’s role in the rendition of two men arrested by the UK and then imprisoned by the Americans for five years in Afghanistan, it is claimed today.”
The Independent, 7th December 2009
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Loss of court reporters is a blow to open justice – The Guardian
“Open justice, an essential ingredient of a democracy, is usually understood to mean the absence of secret trials and the right of the individual – subject to very few carefully defined exceptions – to enter any of our courts and watch proceedings, without hindrance. But most people do not find it practical or easy to make such personal visits, so the principle of open justice has been extended to include the presence of representatives of the media, acting as the people’s proxy, reporting on behalf of the population what goes on in our courts.”
The Guardian, 7th December 2009
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Super-injunctions do limit freedom of speech, Speaker’s lawyers advise – The Guardian
“Controversial ‘super-injunctions’ highlighted by the Guardian do prevent the media’s reporting of proceedings in parliament, the Commons Speaker’s legal team have advised in a move MPs will regard as a real threat to free speech.”
The Guardian, 6th December 2009
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Unmarried couples need new legal rights, says reform judge – The Times
“Two million unmarried couples need new legal rights to protect them from injustice if they separate, the new senior judge in charge of law reform has said.”
The Times, 7th December 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Cyclists targeted as Westminster Council goes after ‘lycra louts’ – The Times
“The swelling ranks of badly behaved cyclists may soon face more than an angry cabbie honking his horn or a pedestrian giving the V sign. A council determined to make them obey the Highway Code is to deploy enforcers in a hunt for so-called ‘Lycra louts’ as they whizz through red lights or ride listening to iPods.”
The Times, 7th December 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.k
Bankers’ killers make appeal bid – BBC News
“Two brothers who admitted the manslaughter of a senior banking executive in Norfolk have appealed against their jail terms.”
BBC News, 3rd December 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Motorist loses crash death appeal – BBC News
“A motorist who was drunk when she hit and killed a 15-month-old boy in his pushchair has lost her appeal against her seven-year sentence.”
BBC News, 4th December 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
When ministers take an 18 per cent pay cut, then we will be silent, says chairman-elect of the Bar Council – The Times
“Keir Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, had better watch out. Next year’s Bar chairman has the Crown Prosecution Service in his sights. Nicholas Green, QC, talks of gathering storm clouds threatening the stability of the Bar and of pressures bearing down with ‘potentially devastating effect’. And one of these, he says, is the push by Crown prosecutors to take on Crown Court work that used to be handled by the Bar.”
The Times, 3rd December 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Solicitor to be sentenced after stealing £90,000 from blind widow – Law Society’s Gazette
“A Black Country solicitor faces jail after stealing £90,000 from a blind widow and spending the money on luxury items including a pedigree ‘teacup’ chihuahua.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd December 2009
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Criminal law: youth justice and sentencing – Law Society’s Gazette
“Major changes are being made to the way that courts may sentence young offenders. On 27 April, provisions were brought into force to increase the use of referral orders. These are mandatory if the offence is imprisonable and a first-time offender admits the offence and all connected offences, and the court does not deal with the matter by way of an absolute discharge, hospital order or custodial sentence.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd December 2009
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Woolf calls for arbitration overhaul as he launches new guidance – Law Society’s Gazette
“International arbitration has ‘lost its way’, the former lord chief justice Lord Woolf (pictured) told the Gazette this week, as he launched a set of guidelines which will build mediation into the arbitration process.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd December 2009
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
£500 fine for £7k fake jacket con – BBC News
“A ‘dispicable’ conman must pay nearly £7,000 after conning an elderly couple into buying fake leather jackets.”
BBC News, 3rd December 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Couple’s cruise payout challenged – BBC News
“A cruise company has started an appeal to reduce £22,000 in damages awarded to a North Yorkshire couple who claim their dream holiday was ruined.”
BBC News, 3rd December 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Rome I comes into force, clarifies whose laws apply to contract disputes – OUT-LAW.com
“Companies that negotiate contracts without specifying which country’s law should govern any contractual disputes between them will face a new legal regime in two weeks’ time. From 17th December, a new EU law, Rome I, will decide which law should apply.”
OUT-LAW.com, 3rd December 2009
Source: www.out-law.com
Why too much legal experience can subvert jury trial – The Times
“Like quite a few other lawyers, recently I was called to do jury service. Apart from the inevitable waiting around (note: bring a thick book and a sense of humour), my two weeks were spent trying one serious case (alleged rape and false imprisonment). This is not an article bashing the jury system. Nor am I going to talk about the decision in our case, because I can’t (even if I wanted to). But for a commercial practitioner, the experience certainly had some surprises.”
The Times, 3rd December 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Law school BPP accused of exploiting demand to rake in more fees – The Times
“One of London’s most prestigious law schools is under investigation amid allegations that it exploited student demand, packing in extra numbers to boost income by almost £1 million.”
The Times, 4th December 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Paramedic stopped resuscitating new-born baby too son, hearing told – Daily Telegraph
“Khalid Abdel-Rahim, a paramedic with the London Ambulance Service, faces being struck off by a conduct and competence committee at the Health Professions Council in London.”
Daily Telegraph, 4th December 2009
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Sellafield faces fine for exposing staff to radioactivity – The Guardian
“The safety record of Britain’s nuclear industry will be tarnished tomorrow when managers at the Sellafield complex in Cumbria are fined for exposing staff to radioactive contamination.”
The Guardian, 3rd December 2009
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
