R v Davis [2008] UKHL 36; [2008] WLR (D) 196
“Protective measures, ensuring the anonymity of witnesses without whose evidence the defendant could not have been convicted of murder, denied him the opportunity properly to advance his defence and accordingly rendered his trial unfair.”
WLR Daily, 19th June 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
“Two trials at which anonymous witnesses were about to be called to give evidence were suspended for legal argument yesterday following a House of Lords judgment on Wednesday questioning the growing practice of granting anonymity to frightened witnesses.”
The Guardian, 20th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
House of Lords
“Protective measures, which ensured the anonymity of three witnesses without whose evidence the defendant could not have been convicted of murder, rendered the trial unfair and were, accordingly, unlawful.”
The Times, 19th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
“The four men convicted of murdering two teenage girls outside a New Year party may go to the Court of Appeal following a ruling over anonymous witnesses.”
BBC News, 19th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“What can the police and courts do when witnesses are too scared to testify – especially to the most violent of crimes?”
BBC Law in Action, 10th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“The Law Reform, Victims and Witnesses Bill aims to deliver a more effective, transparent and responsive justice system for victims, witnesses and the wider public.”
Ministry of Justice, 9th June 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“Dedicated police staff are to patrol London’s youth courts to encourage knife crime victims and witnesses to testify against their attackers.”
The Guardian, 28th May 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Witnesses who give evidence against gang members will be guaranteed their anonymity as soon as they come forward so they can be free from fear of reprisals, The Times has learnt.”
The Times, 22nd May 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“New proposals to give greater protection to victims and witnesses in court are among those set out in the Ministry of Justice’s contribution to the Draft Legislative Programme announced by the Prime Minister today.”
Ministry of Justice, 14th May 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Related link: Preparing Britain for the Future – the Draft Legislative Programme 2008-09 (PDF)
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
“There was no requirement to tell a wife that she was not a compellable witness against her husband before interviewing her about a crime of which her husband was suspected.”
The Times, 14th May 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
R v L [2008] EWCA Crim 973; [2008] WLR (D) 142
“There was no requirement to tell a wife that she was not a compellable witness against her husband before interviewing her about a crime of which her husband was suspected.”
WLR Daily, 8th May 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
MY (Turkey) v Secretary of State for Home Department
Court of Appeal
“Where an immigration judge found a witness to be reliable and accepted his evidence, it was inappropriate and an error of law for another immigration judge at a second hearing to attack the credibility of the same witness.”
The Times, 21st April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
“The national roll-out of two new initiatives – pre-trial interviews with witnesses and conditional cautions – has now been completed across England and Wales.”
Crown Prosecution Service, 1st April 2008
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
“Some prosecutors feel that children and vulnerable adults cannot cope with courtroom pressures. All that is about to change.”
The Times, 1st April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Much of a murder trial will be held in secret for reasons of ‘national security’, an Old Bailey judge ruled yesterday.”
The Guardian, 16th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Media organisations including the Guardian yesterday challenged a demand unprecedented in modern times – that witnesses at a forthcoming murder trial should be heard in secret, for ‘national security’ reasons.”
The Guardian, 15th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“A chip shop worker who won £1m on a national lottery scratchcard in October has been jailed for contempt of court after she flew off on holiday instead of appearing as a witness in a criminal trial.”
The Guardian, 11th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Court of Appeal, Criminal Division
“It was not good enough to ensure the attendance of a witness to leave making contact until the last working day before the trial.”
The Times, 14th December 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
Inner West London Assistant Deputy Coroner v Channel 4 Television Corporation and Another
“Courts should avoid trying to fit a coroner’s application for a witness summons into the template of civil litigation; because of the inquisitorial nature of an inquest, a more flexible approach should be taken.”
The Times, 11th December 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note that the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
© Inner Temple Library 2024