Ruling due in witness murder case – BBC News
“Law Lords are expected to rule later on whether a police force breached the human rights of a witness who was murdered before he could give evidence.”
BBC News, 30th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: witnesses
New witness rules introduced to protect trials – The Times
“Tighter rules on when witnesses can claim anonymity in court were issued yesterday to ensure that trials are not undermined because defendants do not know the identity of witnesses.”
The Times, 22nd July 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Act 2008
Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Act 2008 published
Full text of Act (PDF)
Source: www.opsi.gov.uk
Witness anonymity bill is passed – BBC News
“Emergency legislation to allow witnesses in sensitive criminal trials to give evidence anonymously has cleared Parliament.”
BBC News, 16th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Podcast 67: R v Davis – Witness Anonymity with Andrew Keogh – Charon QC
“On the 18th June the House of Lords handed down their opinions
IN THE CAUSE
R v Davies (Appellant) (On appeal from the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division))
I quote from the speech of Lord Bingham, the senior law lord at paragraph 5 : ‘It is a long-established principle of the English common law that, subject to certain exceptions and statutory qualifications, the defendant in a criminal trial should be confronted by his accusers in order that he may cross-examine them and challenge their evidence.’
Today I am talking to Andrew Keogh, a barrister, published author and author of the White Rabbit blog about the case and the proposed anonymity legislation”
Charon QC, 10th July 2008
Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com
“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.
You can’t trust a witness’s memory, experts tell courts – The Times
“The memories of witnesses are flawed, marred by gaps or inventions and should not be relied upon in court cases, researchers say.”
The Times, 11th July 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Changes to prosecution witness anonymity rules may not save trials – The Times
“Prosecutions are at risk of not going ahead even if fast-track plans to allow witnesses anonymity in court are approved, the Director of Public Prosecutions said yesterday.”
The Times, 9th July 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Cases ‘at risk’ without anonymity – BBC News
“A ‘large number’ of court cases could be ‘at risk’ if judges do not have the power to grant anonymity to witnesses, MPs and peers have been told.”
BBC News, 8th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Witness law to be debated by MPs – BBC News
“MPs are to debate emergency legislation to restore trial judges’ powers to grant anonymity to witnesses.”
BBC News, 8th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Parliamentary Briefing on the Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill 2008 – The Bar Council
“The Bar Council has prepared a Parliamentary Briefing on the Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill 2008 which is being taken through its Commons Second Reading stage tomorrow, Tuesday 8 July 2008.”
Parliamentary Briefing Paper (PDF)
The Bar Council, 7th July 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Witness and victim experience survey: early findings – Ministry of Justice
“The Witness and Victim Experience Survey is a national telephone survey that explores victims’ and witnesses’ experiences of the criminal justice system in England and Wales in cases that have resulted in criminal charges.
This report explores the provision of information and services to victims and witnesses in cases closed between February 2005 to January 2006, and of the progress made at a local and national level against key criminal justice system initiatives.”
Early findings from the Witness and Victim Experience Survey: information and service provision (PDF)
Ministry of Justice, 3rd July 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Straw unveils witness legislation – BBC News
“Emergency legislation to restore trial judges’ powers to grant anonymity to witnesses has been unveiled by Justice Secretary Jack Straw. ”
BBC News, 3rd July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Fatal new year party that led to Lords ruling on anonymity – The Guardian
“It was 9am on New Year’s Day in Hackney, east London, and still party time. A flat in an unremarkable side street had been rented by two Ethiopians for the festivities.
Six years later, that double murder is at the centre of the current storm over anonymity of witnesses which has prompted the justice secretary, Jack Straw, to introduce an emergency bill on the subject which will be rushed through the Commons next week.”
The Guardian, 30th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Straw’s emergency bill to shield witnesses – The Guardian
“Jack Straw, the justice secretary, will introduce an emergency bill in the Commons next week to try to stop hundreds of serious criminal cases collapsing because of concerns about anonymous witnesses. Announcing the move yesterday, he said the bill was expected to go through all its Commons stages the week beginning July 7.”
The Guardian, 27th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘This was the way these mothers won justice’ – The Times
“When Jacqui Smith heard last week that the judiciary had effectively outlawed courtroom protection for witnesses, she thought of her conversations with the mothers of Letisha Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis.”
The Times, 25th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
The Anonymity Crisis – BBC Law in Action
“A House of Lords judgement on witness anonymity has created huge headaches for courts and lawmakers – but is there a way forward?”
BBC Law in Action, 24th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Dozens of murder cases at risk after collapse of hitman trial – The Times
“Ministers are determined to rush through emergency laws to halt the collapse of criminal cases throughout England and Wales after senior judges ruled that granting witnesses anonymity could make trials unfair.”
The Times, 25th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Analysis: criminals will go free unless ministers act on anonymity – The Times
“Scores of trials around England and Wales appeared to be risk today as the impact of a House of Lords ruling last week begins to bite.”
The Times, 24th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Law Lords anonymity ruling takes first casualty – The Times
“The first major murder trial to be hit by last week’s law lords’ ruling on witness anonymity was halted at the Old Bailey today.”
The Times, 24th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
John Yates, assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, fears killers will go free – Daily Telegraph
“Dozens of Britain’s most dangerous criminals, including murderers and terrorists, could be freed from jail after a potentially ‘disastrous’ ruling by senior judges, a leading police officer has warned.”
Daily Telegraph,
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
