‘Hold inquiry into Army abuse in Iraq’ – The Independent

Posted February 8th, 2010 in armed forces, inquiries, Iraq, news by sally

“Ministers have been told by a senior judge to consider opening an independent inquiry into all allegations of abuse made by Iraqi civilians against the British Army. The move could lead to the biggest investigation into military malpractice ever heard in this country.”

Full story

The Independent, 8th February 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Exiled billionaire Berezovsky begins libel battle over claim he killed Litvinenko – The Guardian

Posted February 8th, 2010 in defamation, murder, news, poisoning by sally

“Boris Berezovsky, a fierce critic of the Kremlin who claimed asylum in the UK in 2003, is suing Vladimir Terluk over ­comments he made on a Russian news programme in April 2007. In the interview, Terluk – under the pseudonym ‘Pyotr’ – claimed Berezovsky was responsible for Litvinenko’s radiation poisoning. The allegation has also been made by Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGB officer whom the British government has named as their prime suspect for the murder.”

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The Guardian, 7th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Motown tribute case to test UK libel law – The Guardian

Posted February 8th, 2010 in appeals, defamation, defences, media, news by sally

“Media organisations hope judgment will clear away tangle of legal complexities around defence of fair comment.”

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The Guardian, 7th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Special Forces chief battles to stop book revealing details of operations in Iraq – The Times

Posted February 8th, 2010 in news by sally

“The head of Britain’s special forces has been trying to stop the publication of a book by a senior BBC journalist which describes in ‘tactical detail’ operations carried out by the SAS in Iraq from 2003 to 2009.”

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The Times, 8th February 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Unlawful anti-terror powers planned for use during 2012 Olympics – The Times

Posted February 8th, 2010 in news by sally

“Police are planning to use an anti-terror law deemed unlawful by the European Court of Human Rights across the country during the London Olympics, The Times has learnt.”

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The Times, 8th February 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Lord Goldsmith told two different truths, says legal expert – The Observer

Posted February 8th, 2010 in attorney general, illegality, Iraq, news, war by sally

“Fresh questions have been raised about how Lord Goldsmith, the former attorney general, came to back the use of military force in Iraq after one of the UK’s leading legal experts highlighted apparent contradictions in his testimonies before two official inquiries.”

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The Observer, 7th February 2010

Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk

Prisoners ‘could sue’ if denied vote in general election – The Observer

Posted February 8th, 2010 in elections, news, prisons by sally

“Tens of thousands of prisoners could sue if they are not allowed to vote in this year’s general election, the government is being warned.The UK, one of the few countries in the world to impose a blanket ban on prisoners voting, must give those held behind bars the vote in order to comply with a European legal ruling, dating back six years. However, ministers have been procrastinating on the issue, fearing that it will prove unpopular with the electorate.”

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The Observer, 7th February 2010

Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk

Greater court protection for homeowners: consultation – Ministry of Justice

“A consultation on whether homeowners who have failed to repay consumer credit debts should have accrued a minimum level of debt before a court can order the sale of their home has been released today.”

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Ministry of Justice, 5th February 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Three Labour MPs and one Tory peer face expenses abuse charges – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2010 in expenses, false accounting, news by sally

“Three Labour MPs and a Tory peer will face criminal charges over alleged abuses of their expenses, it was announced today.”

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The Guardian, 5th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 5th, 2010 in law reports by sally

Supreme Court

HM Treasury v Ahmed & Ors [2010] UKSC 5 (04 February 2010)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Hancox & Anor v R. [2010] EWCA Crim 102 (04 February 2010)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Perinpanathan, R (on the application of) v City of Westminster Magistrates Court & Anor [2010] EWCA Civ 40 (04 February 2010)

The Port of London Authority v Ashmore [2010] EWCA Civ 30 (04 February 2010)

Republic of Argentina v NML Capital Ltd [2010] EWCA Civ 41 (04 February 2010)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Griffin v Uhy Hacker Young & Partners (a firm) [2010] EWHC 146 (Ch) (04 February 2010)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Fidler v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2010] EWHC 143 (Admin) (03 February 2010)

Chester, R (on the application of) v The Governor of HMP Wakefield [2010] EWHC 63 (Admin) (22 January 2010)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted February 5th, 2010 in legislation by sally

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2010

The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provision) (Amendment) Order 2010

The Court Funds (Amendment) Rules 2010

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Regina v Iqbal – WLR Daily

Posted February 5th, 2010 in appeals, confiscation, law reports, time limits by sally

Regina v Iqbal [2010] WLR (D) 23

“An application for the time for proceedings for a confiscation order to be postponed, or for a postponement to be extended, may be made only during the permitted period provided for in s 14 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.”

WLR Daily, 4th February 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Regina v Barker (Steven) – Times Law Reports

Posted February 5th, 2010 in law reports by sally

Regina v Barker (Steven)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

“It was not necessarily appropriate for a defence advocate to conduct detailed crossexamination of a child witness at trial in respect of evidence purported to undermine that child’s credibility.”

The Times, 5th February 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Former judge hits out at ‘damaging’ penalties as he grants MPs’ expenses appeals – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2010 in appeals, expenses, news, parliament by sally

“Sir Paul Kennedy, the former judge ­dealing with MPs’ appeals against demands for repayments after the expenses ­scandal, was deeply critical of the ­’damaging and unfair’ penalties today as he granted the majority of the 75 appeals.”

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The Guardian, 4th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DPP due to announce MPs’ expenses charges decision – BBC News

Posted February 5th, 2010 in expenses, false accounting, news by sally

“Prosecutors are due to reveal whether they intend to bring criminal charges against six MPs and peers over their expenses claims.”

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BBC News, 5th February 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

PCC is ‘farcical’, says ex-director of public prosecutions – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2010 in media, news by sally

“A leading lawyer tonight called for independent regulation of the press, and for ‘all credible media organisations’ to withdraw from the ‘farcical’ Press ­Complaints Commission. Sir Ken Macdonald, ­visiting professor of law at the LSE and the former director of public prosecutions, told an audience of editors and lawyers: ‘The press may think the PCC works, but they are living in a dream world. Nobody else does.'”

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The Guardian, 4th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Banks face scrutiny on money-laundering reports – The Times

Posted February 5th, 2010 in news by sally

“Bank customers who lose out when a transaction is delayed because of money-laundering suspicions have won the right to challenge banks’ decisions after a landmark $300 million court case.”

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The Times, 4th February 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Couple jailed for multi-million prostitution ring – The Independent

Posted February 5th, 2010 in conspiracy, money laundering, news, prostitution, trafficking in human beings by sally

“A couple who ran a multi-million-pound prostitution ring of trafficked young women and girls were behind bars today.”

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The Independent, 4th February 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lawyers want UK public inquiry into Iraq abuse – BBC News

Posted February 5th, 2010 in armed forces, inquiries, Iraq, news, war by sally

“A group of lawyers is attempting to secure a public inquiry into how UK forces treated detainees in Iraq.”

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BBC News, 5th February 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sir Ken MacDonald: former DPP warns British libel laws suppressing free speech – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 5th, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, privacy by sally

“British courts represent a serious threat to freedom of speech, suppressing the spread of information around the world, the former Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Ken MacDonald said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 5th February 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk