Former minister’s son branded ‘manipulative’ as he is jailed for seven years for killing toddler with car seat – Daily Telegraph

‘A former minister’s son has been branded “manipulative and cunning” as he was jailed for seven years for killing a three-year-old with a car seat.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th November 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

PAP witness statements “can be grounds for contempt” – Litigation Futures

Posted November 12th, 2019 in civil procedure rules, contempt of court, news, pre-action conduct, witnesses by sally

‘A witness statement verified by a statement of truth made by a prospective claimant before the commencement of proceedings can give rise to contempt, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 11th November 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

BBC Radio 4 – Law in Action: ‘Magistracy: a jewel in the crown of justice’ – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted November 7th, 2019 in cross-examination, Crown Court, magistrates, press releases, witnesses by tracey

‘Joshua Rozenberg from BBC Radio 4 spoke with Maidstone Bench Chair Gill Fryzer and John Bache from the Magistrates Association for his Law in Action programme.’

Full press release

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 7th November 2019

Source: www.judiciary.ukwww.judiciary.ukwww.judiciary.uk

Child sex abuse survivors ‘traumatised again’ by facing attackers in court buildings before hearings – The Independent

‘Survivors of childhood sexual abuse are forced to come face-to-face with their tormentors in court buildings while waiting for cases to be heard, a report has revealed.
Such shocks are among a host of failings by authorities and advisers that are regularly leaving people “at risk of being traumatised all over again” and feeling “discarded” by the justice system.’

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The Independent, 23rd October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Law Society speech by Chancellor of the High Court, Sir Geoffrey Vos: Civil Procedure Rules – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted October 18th, 2019 in case management, civil procedure rules, speeches, witnesses by tracey

‘The Chancellor of the High Court, Sir Geoffrey Vos, spoke at the Law Society’s annual Civil Litigation conference on 9 October 2019 about 20 years of the Civil Procedure Rules – and whether the original reforms went too far, or not far enough.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 15th October 2019

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Push for tougher line on witness statements – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 18th, 2019 in drafting, evidence, news, reports, witnesses by tracey

‘Initial proposals for the reform of witness statements are due to be considered by the senior judiciary in November, a High Court judge said this week. Mr Justice Baker, a member of the Witness Evidence Working Group, told delegates at the Law Society’s Commercial Litigation Conference on Tuesday that the group has now completed its report, which is due to be considered by judges at a “higher pay grade” next month.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th October 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Rotherham child sex abuse: Waseem Khaliq jailed for further 45 months – BBC News

Posted September 17th, 2019 in child abuse, children, intimidation, news, sentencing, sexual offences, witnesses by tracey

‘A man jailed for 10 years for abusing young girls in Rotherham has also been sentenced to another three years and nine months in prison for witness intimidation.’

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BBC News, 16th September 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Homophobic hate crime charges fall despite soaring reports – BBC News

‘Fewer people are being prosecuted for homophobic hate crimes despite rising numbers of potential victims coming forward, figures suggest.’

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BBC News, 11th September 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Consultation paper launched – Vulnerable witnesses and parties – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted September 5th, 2019 in case management, civil procedure rules, consultations, victims, witnesses by tracey

‘Consultation paper launched – Vulnerable witnesses and parties.’

Full consultation

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 3rd September 2019

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Judge issues warning to solicitors providing secondary evidence – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 8th, 2019 in civil procedure rules, evidence, news, solicitors, witnesses by tracey

‘A High Court judge has stressed that witness statements from litigants’ solicitors will be disregarded if they appear to be irrelevant or badly sourced.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 7th August 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

How helpful is witness evidence anyway? The impact (or not) of evidence from a third party in loss of chance cases – Hardwicke Chambers

‘A solicitor makes a negligent error in a negotiation between a client and third party. The error leads the client to agree something different to the agreement the client had envisaged. What difference does the error make to the outcome and how should this translate into damages? Does the analysis change where the third party gives evidence and is adamant that the error made no difference to the outcome? These questions arose in Moda International Brands Ltd v Gateley LLP (1) & Gateley Plc (2). Against the background of the Commercial Court’s consultation on witness statements, this case offers an illustration of witnesses’ diminished role.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 21st June 2019

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Kenneth Noye: Police still investigating murder of key witness in road-rage killer’s trial 19 years ago – The Independent

Posted May 29th, 2019 in murder, news, police, road traffic, witnesses by tracey

‘The unsolved assassination of a key witness who helped to put road-rage killer Kenneth Noye behind bars remains under investigation by detectives, police have said.’

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The Independent, 28th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police ordered to use bail to protect victims after suspected rapists and murderers freed – The Independent

‘Police officers have been told to use bail conditions to protect the public after new rules saw thousands of suspected sex attackers and violent criminals released without any restrictions. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has released guidance to all officers and staff emphasising that pre-charge bail is a “legitimate tool” in the wake of government changes in 2017.’

Full Story

The Independent, 27th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Leading firm held liable for asbestos case blunder – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has ordered Cardiff-based Hugh James to pay six-figure damages to the family of an asbestos victim for professional negligence in abandoning their personal injury claim.’

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Legal Futures, 1st May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Murder witnesses to be given same support as victims’ families under plans to stop ‘cycle of brutal offending’ – The Independent

Posted April 5th, 2019 in bereavement, murder, news, victims, witnesses by tracey

‘People who witness fatal stabbings and murders in London will be given the same support as bereaved relatives under new proposals. The justice secretary, David Gauke, said trauma can fuel a “continued cycle of brutal offending” amid warnings that children exposed to violence at a young age can become more vulnerable to gangs.’

Ministry of Justice press release

Full Story

The Independent, 4th April 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Inheritance Act and Adult Child Claimants – recent guidance from the Chancery Division – Family Law Week

‘Gwyn Evans, barrister of Tanfield Chambers, explains the court’s judgment in a recent Inheritance Act case involving an estranged adult claimant, reliant on state benefits, and defendants for whom inheritance was a windfall.’

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Family Law Week, 29th March 2019

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Sheffield United’s Sophie Jones quits football after being found guilty of racial abuse, labels FA hearing a ‘kangaroo court’ – The Independent

Posted March 21st, 2019 in evidence, fines, news, racism, sport, witnesses by tracey

‘Sheffield United’s Sophie Jones has claimed she will quit football after being found guilty of racially abusing Renee Hector by the FA. Jones labelled the FA’s hearing as a “kangaroo court” and says she can no longer play under a governing body who she “does not have any confidence in”. The FA reached a guilty verdict on Wednesday after Jones was alleged to have made monkey noises at Tottenham’s Renee Hector on 6 January in the Women’s Championship, with the 27-year-old receiving a five-match ban and being fined £200. Jones was subsequently sacked by Sheffield United.’

Full Story

The Independent, 20th March 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Commercial Court “should better enforce witness statement rules” – Litigation Futures

‘Early results from a survey on witness statements has found that that most Commercial Court users want judges to be tougher in enforcing the rules, it has emerged.’

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Litigation Futures, 28th February 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Child witnesses struggling to remember details after lengthy waits – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 28th, 2019 in children, cross-examination, delay, news, witnesses by tracey

‘A 13-year-old witness struggled to recall information in detail when cross-examined in court after waiting two years for the trial to begin, according to research commissioned by the NSPCC, which says child witnesses are being let down by the criminal justice system.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th February 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

CA rules £1m security order to admit late statement was wrong – Litigation Futures

Posted February 18th, 2019 in adjournment, costs, news, service, time limits, witnesses by sally

‘A High Court judge was wrong to order a defendant to make a £1m security for costs payment – almost the sum the claimant was seeking – to rely on a witness statement it had served late, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 18th February 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com