Leanne Meecham death: Stepfather guilty of murder – BBC News
‘A man has been found guilty of the “violent and vicious” murder of his stepdaughter, who was also his former lover.’
BBC News, 13th August 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Tackling alcohol-rated offending – are “Sobriety tags” the answer? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
‘The first “sobriety tag” has been fitted to a man who had been found guilty of drunken affray. The introduction of the tags, which monitor consumption of alcohol by the wearer, is part of a year-long pilot scheme to tackle alcohol-related reoffending.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 14th August 2014
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
The iniquity exception – legal privilege and the long-running Ablyazov litigation – Legal Week
‘What you say to your lawyers is truly confidential; no-one, not even a regulator or prosecutor can see it. This is protected by the right to privacy under Article 8, and the right to a fair trial under Article 6 (which includes the right to access to lawyers).’
Legal Week, 13th August 2014
Source: www.legalweek.com
Graham Allen: Kick-starting the debate on a codified constitution for the UK – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘Does the United Kingdom need a codified constitution? It’s a question on which generations of law students will have had to write essays, burning the midnight oil and scribbling or tapping away into the night, rehearsing the pros and the cons. But I want it to be something else: the start of a lively and passionate public debate that could result in real change to our country’s democratic set-up.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 14th August 2014
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org
British student cleared of attempting to smuggle cash to Syrian jihadists – The Guardian
‘A British student accused of trying to smuggle thousands of pounds in her underwear to jihadist rebels in Syria has been cleared of conspiring to fund terrorism but her friend has become only the second Britain to be found guilty of the offence.’
The Guardian, 13th August 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Who, what, why: What can and can’t you put on headstones? – BBC News
‘A priest has allegedly asked a grieving family to remove a headstone from a churchyard because of an “inappropriate” inscription. But what is and isn’t allowed, asks Chris Stokel-Walker.’
BBC News, 13th August 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
Dowdall v William Kenyon & Sons Ltd & Ors [2014] EWHC 2822 (QB) (12 August 2014)
High Court (Administrative Court)
Adams, In the matter of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 [2014] EWHC 2639 (Admin) (11 August 2014)
Source: www.bailii.org
Regina (Woods and another) v Chief Constable of Merseyside Police – WLR Daily
‘The Service Confidence Procedure (“SCP”), which was the statutory misconduct regime for police officers, was amenable to judicial review, but in circumstances where reasons for it were subject to a decision that they could not be disclosed due to public interest immunity, then the threshold for judicial interference was very high.’
WLR Daily, 7th August 2014
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Regina (Hamill) v Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court – WLR Daily
Regina (Hamill) v Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court [2014] EWHC 2799 (Admin); [2014] WLR (D) 377
‘The statutory power to make a determination pursuant to section 91C of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, on an application under section 91B of that Act, could be delegated by the “chief officer of police” to a subordinate police officer of the rank of superintendent or higher.’
WLR Daily, 8th August 2014
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Should the press be able to report the evidence in a financial remedy case? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
‘There was before the court a substantive hearing in respect of financial claims arising from divorce proceedings between a husband and wife (Cooper-Hohn v Hohn). The issue of reporting of the proceedings arose and the necessary application was made on behalf of the media.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 12th August 2014
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Veto of human rights rulings will damage Britain’s stance on Iraq, Dominc Grieve warns – Daily Telegraph
‘Dominic Grieve warns that a veto on European Court of Human Rights rulings would be a ‘disaster’ and would would place Britain in ‘great difficulty in terms of our international standing on human rights’.’
Daily Telegraph, 13th August 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Indecent homes and major works charges – NearlyLegal
‘The DCLG has released the “Social landlords reduction of service charges: mandatory and discretionary directions 2014“, in force as of today, 12 August 2014.’
NearlyLegal, 12th August 2014
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Lord Neuberger, Britain’s most senior judge, admits he doesn’t read all papers in a case – Daily Telegraph
‘The president of the Supreme Court indicates he “skims” case files before an appeal, unlike other judges who “read everything”.’
Full story
Daily Telegraph, 12th August 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Ombudsman slams prison service on suicides – The Independent
‘Failings in the prison service are leaving “vulnerable and isolated” young people at risk from suicide and self-harm, the Prison Ombudsman has concluded.’
The Independent, 12th August 2014
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Victims of trafficking empowered to seek compensation – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
‘The employee had been allegedly trafficked from Nigeria to the UK by the employer to work illegally as an au pair (Hounga v Allen and another). The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, set aside an award of compensation granted in the employee’s favour for unlawful discrimination in relation to her dismissal by the employer, having held that the illegality of the contract of employment had formed a material part of the employee’s complaint and that to uphold it would be to condone the illegality. The employee appealed. The Supreme Court, allowing the appeal, held that it would be a breach of the UK’s international obligations under the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings for its law to cause the employee’s complaint to be defeated by the defence of illegality. The case was remitted to the tribunal in respect of a complaint in relation to pre-dismissal harassment.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 13th August 2014
Source: www.halsburyslawexhange.co.uk
Peterborough men jailed for plotting miscarriage attack – BBC News
‘A man who plotted to have his pregnant lover beaten up in order to get rid of their unborn child has been jailed.’
BBC News, 12th August 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
High Court: making defendant pay 10% more for rejecting part 36 offer would add “penal element” – Litigation Futures
‘A High Court judge has ruled that making a defendant who rejected a part 36 offer pay an additional 10% of the sum awarded for costs would introduce a “penal element” and be unjust.’
Litigation Futures, 13th August 2014
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Woman teacher who had sexual relationship with female pupil walks free – Daily Telegraph
‘Hayley Southwell, 27, given a suspended sentence after her victim refuses to co-operate with police.’
Daily Telegraph, 12th August 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Boy sentenced to four years for rape of girl aged 10 – BBC News
‘A 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to four years for raping a 10-year-old girl in Shrewsbury town centre.’
BBC News, 12th August 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
European court says UK ban on prisoners voting ‘breaches their human rights’ – but won’t grant them compensation – The Independent
‘Britain’s blanket ban denying all prisoners the vote is a breach of human rights, European judges have ruled – but those jailed will not receive any costs or compensation.’
The Independent, 12th August 2014
Source: www.independent.co.uk
