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

The inside story of two rape trials: ‘It’s as bad as I’ve ever known it’ – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2024 in barristers, criminal justice, news, rape, sexual offences, trials by sally

‘In sexual assault cases, the work of prosecution barristers is complex, poorly paid – and essential. With conviction rates extraordinarily low and barristers quitting criminal practice in droves, the Guardian shadowed one prosecutor for two years.’

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The Guardian, 17th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Patisserie Valerie fraud trial will not start until 2026, court told – The Guardian

Posted November 8th, 2023 in company directors, fraud, news, trials by sally

‘The fraud trial of former employees of the collapsed bakery chain Patisserie Valerie will not take place for another two and a half years, a court has heard.’

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The Guardian, 7th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law compelling convicts to be in court for sentencing expected in King’s Speech – The Independent

Posted October 25th, 2023 in criminal justice, government departments, judges, judiciary, news, trials by sally

‘A law allowing judges to force convicted criminals to be in court for their sentencing will be in the King’s Speech, the Justice Secretary has indicated.’

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The Independent, 25th October 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ministers ‘dragging feet’ on forcing killers to court as Lucy Letby to skip sentencing – The Independent

‘Ministers have been accused of “dragging their feet” over laws to force killers into the dock as Lucy Letby refuses to appear in court for her sentencing.’

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The Independent, 21st August 2023

Source: www.independent.co.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

PC Sharon Beshenivsky murder accused may not stand trial until 2024 – BBC News

Posted April 18th, 2023 in firearms, murder, news, offensive weapons, police, robbery, trials by sally

‘A man accused of murdering PC Sharon Beshenivsky 18 years ago may not stand trial until 2024.’

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BBC News, 17th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fundamental Dishonesty: An Update – Ropewalk Chambers

Posted April 5th, 2023 in chambers articles, deceit, news, trials by sally

‘In order to have a sense of how my own experience was mirrored by colleagues in Ropewalk Chambers, I conducted a recent survey asking colleagues for their own experiences regarding fundamental dishonesty at trial.’

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Ropewalk Chambers, 30th March 2023

Source: ropewalk.co.uk

Applying to end the automatic suspension – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 22nd, 2023 in contracts, damages, local government, news, public procurement, trials by tracey

‘A recent High Court ruling has provided useful insights into ending the Regulation 95 Contract Making Suspension, writes Colin Ricciardiello.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Woman allegedly raped as a teenager calls for change after ‘horrendous’ trial – The Guardian

Posted March 13th, 2023 in cross-examination, news, rape, retrials, sexual offences, trials, victims, young persons by tracey

‘A woman who alleges that she was raped as a teenager by an older man has called for changes to the judicial process after finding the experience of going to trial traumatic.’

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The Guardian, 12th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal: UT should normally re-make decision instead of remitting case to FTT – EIN Blog

Posted January 9th, 2023 in appeals, criminal justice, deportation, immigration, news, trials, tribunals by tracey

‘AEB v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWCA Civ 1512 (18 November 2022). In this deportation case, Underhill, Nicola Davies and Stuart-Smith LJJ held that where, on an appeal from the First-tier Tribunal (FTT), the Upper Tribunal (UT) found that where the FTT’s decision involved an error of law, it would normally re-make the decision instead of remitting it to the FTT, unless it was satisfied that the error had deprived a party of a fair hearing before the FTT. Where the UT was so satisfied, it would normally remit the decision to the FTT. If the UT chose instead to re-make the decision itself, it would have to give cogent reasons for doing so. “AEB” appealed against a decision of the UT upholding a deportation order made by the respondent SSHD. The appellant was a Nigerian national who had been in the UK for 30 years and who was separated from his partner but helped to care for their three children, all of whom had significant disabilities and special needs. In 2017, he was convicted of dishonesty and sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment. As a result, the SSHD served a deportation decision under the automatic deportation provision set out in section 32 of the UK Borders Act 2007. AEB appealed to the FTT relying on article 8 of the ECHR, which brought into play the provisions of Part 5A of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. But the FTT dismissed his appeal and UT set aside that dismissal on the basis that the FTT had made errors of law which had deprived AEB of a fair hearing.’

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EIN Blog, 9th January 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

First jury trial of Insulate Britain activists begins over M25 blockage – The Guardian

‘Four climate activists have gone on trial for allegedly blocking the M25, in the first of dozens of jury trials planned for supporters of the Insulate Britain campaign.’

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The Guardian, 21st November 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Wife’s ‘nightmare’ as man waits four years for trial – BBC News

‘The wife of a man who has been told he will spend at least four years and four months in jail before standing trial says she is living in a “nightmare”.’

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BBC News, 14th October 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS brings case against judges bailing defendants – BBC News

‘The director of public prosecutions is bringing a High Court challenge against judges’ refusal to detain defendants for longer ahead of trial amid record-high backlogs and legal strikes.’

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BBC News, 26th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Laurence Fox denied first libel jury trial for a decade – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 20th, 2022 in bias, defamation, interpretation, judges, juries, news, racism, trials by sally

‘Actor and political activist Laurence Fox has failed in his bid for the first libel trial by jury in a decade over a social media spat between him and three public figures he called “paedophiles” on Twitter.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th May 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MoJ denies new pilot scheme removes right to a trial – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 16th, 2022 in county courts, Ministry of Justice, news, pilot schemes, small claims, trials by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has denied it is removing litigants’ right to a trial – despite testing a new scheme where judges can resolve cases before a hearing without the consent of both parties.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th May 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Insulate Britain members disrupt trial by gluing hands to court furniture – The Guardian

‘Three members of Insulate Britain have disrupted a magistrates court trial, gluing their hands to court furniture and paying tribute to the environmental activist who died after setting himself on fire outside the US supreme court.’

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The Guardian, 26th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Trial of Extinction Rebellion co-founder delayed pending High Court judgment – The Independent

‘The criminal damage trial of the co-founder of Extinction Rebellion has been delayed pending a High Court judgment over the toppling of Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol.’

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The Independent, 19th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Defendants waiting over six months for trial up 15% in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted February 24th, 2022 in criminal justice, delay, news, remand, statistics, trials by sally

‘The government has been urged to tackle “cruel and unjust” waits for defendants in England and Wales to stand trial after figures showed a 15% yearly rise in the number of people being held for longer than the custody time limit of six months.’

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The Guardian, 23rd February 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com