Breck Bednar murder: Lewis Daynes sentenced to life in prison – BBC News
‘A teenager has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a 14-year-old boy he met through online gaming.’
BBC News, 12th January 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Private renters’ rights are stuck in the dark ages, Citizens Advice warns – The Guardian
‘Currently landlords obligated to repair fundamental fault in property – but can evict tenants if they pursue rights to repair.’
The Guardian, 13th January 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Judge left anonymous in family court case is named – Daily Telegraph
‘Judicial Office names judge in Reading case as Eleanor Owens after identities of everyone involved kept secret in highly-unusual move.’
Daily Telegraph, 12th January 2015
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Chessington fined £150k after girl injured in fall – BBC News
‘Chessington World of Adventures has been fined £150,000 for safety breaches after a four-year-old girl suffered head injuries in a 14ft (4.2m) fall.’
BBC News, 12th January 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Sham marriage stopped after groom uses iPhone translate function to talk to ‘fiancee’ – Daily Telegraph
‘Avtar Singh caught after raising suspicions by accessing translation app to communicate with future Czech wife.’
Daily Telegraph, 12th January 2015
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
One in 4 inmates at youth ‘prison’ held in virtual solitary confinement, say inspectors – The Independent
‘Boys as young as 15 are being held in virtual solitary confinement in a youth prison plagued by gang violence, inspectors warn today.’
The Independent, 13th January 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Lostprophets’ paedophile Ian Watkins will not get £150k pay-out – BBC News
‘Paedophile Ian Watkins will not receive a £150,000 pay-out after a Lostprophets’ management company was dissolved, the BBC understands.’
BBC News, 13th January 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Online predator’ who stabbed boy, 14, to death faced sexual assault charges – The Guardian
‘A teenager who stabbed to death a 14-year-old boy he met while playing online video games was also accused of sexually assaulting another boy, it can be reported for the first time.’
The Guardian, 12th January 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
High Court: not “in best interests” of officer who used cocaine to sue police for psychiatric injury – Litigation Futures
‘A High Court judge has said it was not in the “best interests” of a former undercover police officer who used cocaine “on more than one occasion” to sue his police force for psychiatric injury.’
Litigation Futures, 12th January 2015
Source: www.litigationfutures.co.uk
Neither compassionate nor humane – Legal Aid Handbook
‘The first two reported cases of the year in the Family Court are both concerned with the difficulties litigants – not to mention practitioners, and the courts – are now faced with when trying to navigate the legal aid system. The first – about which we posted here – concerned an unrepresented father who couldn’t get legal aid despite needing to cross-examine a child who had accused him of abuse, leading to the court to order that he be funded outside the legal aid scheme.’
Full story
Legal Aid Handbook, 11th January 2015
Source: www.legalaidhandbook.com
A worrying new anti-terror law is sneaking through Parliament – The Guardian
‘As the world’s press and public stand vigil in support of Charlie Hebdo and the families of the victims of Wednesday’s attack, we wake this morning to reports that our security services are under pressure and seeking new powers. The spectre of the Communications Data Bill is again evoked. These reports mirror renewed commitments yesterday to new counter-terrorism measures for the EU and in France.’
The Guardian, 9th January 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Asking for relief – NearlyLegal
‘This is a housing case, but the procedural issue in this decision is only tangentially related to that. Nonetheless, it is a matter worth noting.’
NearlyLegal, 10th January 2015
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
First ombudsman decisions in pension liberation cases show need for a change in the law, says expert – OUT-LAW.com
‘The Pensions Ombudsman has dismissed complaints by three pension scheme members who were prevented from transferring their savings into suspected liberation schemes, but has warned that “mere suspicion” is not enough reason for a provider to block a transfer request.’
OUT-LAW.com, 12th January 2015
Source: www.out-law.com
49 year-old Rugby player’s ban doubled to 20 years for assaulting referee’ – Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers
On 29 September 2014 the RFU Appeal Panel, chaired by Sir James Dingemans, handed down judgment in RFU v Barry Lockwood.
Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 12th January 2015
Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org
Commercial property: dilapidations liability – Law Society’s Gazette
‘As the average lease length decreases, a review of dilapidations liability by the Court of Appeal is timely. Dilapidations are the repair works which have not been undertaken by the tenant, in breach of the terms of the lease.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 12th January 2015
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Neuberger and Dyson to head seven-judge panel for Coventry – Litigation Futures
‘The president of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, and Lord Dyson, the Master of the Rolls, will head a seven-judge panel for the eagerly awaited Coventry costs hearing on 9 February, it has been announced.’
Litigation Futures, 9th January 2015
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Hot, hot, hot – NearlyLegal
‘Here is an interesting First Tier Tribunal bedroom tax appeal decision from Bexleyheath. [Decision notice]. It is a decision made after the Fife Upper Tribunal decision, but upholds the tenant’s appeal on the basis, in part, that the room is inadequately sized to be a bedroom, as well as being just too damn hot.’
NearlyLegal, 11th January 2015
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Disabled tenants to challenge bedroom tax in supreme court – The Guardian
‘A legal case to be heard at the supreme court will decide whether the government’s housing benefit regulations – the bedroom tax – discriminates unfairly against disabled adults. The ruling could have consequences for hundreds of thousands of people.’
The Guardian, 10th January 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Milestone tax breaks’ idea for married couples who stay together longer – Daily Telegraph
‘Former High Court family judge Sir Paul Coleridge calls for couples to be given extra tax breaks after passing landmark wedding anniversaries to encourage family stability.’
Daily Telegraph, 10th January 2015
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Men jailed over Haringey street shootout – BBC News
‘An armed officer who risked his life to protect the public during a shootout in north London has been commended for his “courage and resolve”.’
BBC News, 9th January 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
