Anonymous evidence ruled unfair – BBC News
“The Law Lords have ruled that a man convicted of a gun killing on the basis of evidence given by anonymous witnesses did not receive a fair trial.”
BBC News, 18th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Northern Rock considers legal action against former board – The Times
“Northern Rock has confirmed that its new bosses have launched an investigation into whether legal action can be taken against the now-nationalised bank’s former board.”
The Times, 18th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Podcast 59: LLB Degree inflation with Norman Baird, QEDLaw – Charon QC
“Today I am talking with Norman Baird about his extensive research into LLB degree inflation in recent years. His findings are published on his QEDlaw blog and are well worth reading if you have an interest in legal education.”
Charon QC, 18th June 2008
Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com
Related link: LLB Degree Inflation – QED Law
“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.
Bail and murder – Ministry of Justice
“This consultation asks whether the rules governing the enforcement of bail conditions and the grant of bail to suspects charged with murder should be revised in the light of recent cases of murder and manslaughter committed by persons on bail. It examines the issues surrounding the grant of bail and the possible options available for recalibrating the law or procedures to provide a greater emphasis on public safety.”
Consultation paper (PDF)
List of questions for response (Word)
Ministry of Justice, 17th June 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Legal aid reform – Ministry of Justice
“Justice Minister Lord Hunt has made a written ministerial statement on a consultation on the Family Graduated Fees Scheme, which governs payments to barristers for family legal aid work.”
Ministry of Justice, 18th June 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
House of Lords Judgments: What’s New?
Elderly and disabled should get anonymity in court, review proposes – The Guardian
“Elderly and disabled people and other victims of crime who fear reprisals may get anonymity in court as part of a wide-ranging review aimed at improving confidence in the criminal justice system.”
The Guardian, 18th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Lords to vote on EU treaty today – The Guardian
“Peers will vote later today on whether to ratify the Lisbon treaty – its final parliamentary hurdle – after it was rejected in an Irish referendum last week.”
The Guardian, 18th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Family legal aid cuts ‘will harm society’s most vulnerable’ – The Bar Council
“Some of the most vulnerable children in society will lose out as a result of plans to cut legal representation in publicly funded family law cases, family barristers have warned.”
The Bar Council, 17th June 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Merton London Borough Council v Jones – WLR Daily
Merton London Borough Council v Jones; [2008] WLR (D) 194
“The liability of a tolerated trespasser to pay mesne profits to a former public landlord terminated when the tolerated trespasser had decided to give up possession and had removed his belongings from his dwelling house, and not at the time when the former landlords were formally notified that he was no longer in possession of the dwelling, even though the tolerated trespasser continued to retain the keys to the dwelling.”
WLR Daily, 17th 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.
BE (Iran) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – Times Law Report
BE (Iran) v Secretary of State for the Home Department
Court of Appeal
“An Iranian soldier who deserted to avoid carrying out an order to plant land mines in peacetime which were liable to kill or maim civilians was entitled to protection as a refugee.”
The Times, 18th 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.
Barlow Clowes International Ltd (in Liquidation) and Others v Henwood – Times Law Reports
Barlow Clowes International Ltd (in Liquidation) and Others v Henwood
Court of Appeal
“Where a person abandoned his domicile of choice by ceasing to reside in the relevant country and giving up his intention permanently to reside there, his domicile of origin revived as a matter of law and persisted until he acquired a domicile of choice elsewhere. The weight of evidence required to prove that he had acquired another domicile of choice was no greater than that which was required to show that one domicile of choice had superseded another. Where a person maintained homes in more than one country, however, the question had to be decided by reference to the quality of residence in each of those countries to ascertain in which country he had an intention permanently to reside.”
The Times, 18th 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.
Regina v Bassett – Times Law Reports
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
“The reference to ‘breasts’ in section 68(1)(a) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, defining voyeurism, did not include male breasts.”
The Times, 18th 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.
BAILII: Recent Decisons
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Porter, R. v [2008] EWCA Crim 1271 (19 May 2008)
Reid, R. v [2008] EWCA Crim 1257 (16 May 2008)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Spreadex Ltd v Sekhon [2008] EWHC 1136 (Ch) (23 May 2008)
High Court (Technology and Construction Court)
Source: www.bailii.org
Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI
Sex and the citizen: a licence to thrill? – The Independent
“The number of lap-dancing clubs has doubled in four years, thanks to a relaxation of licensing laws and despite local objections. But now an MP is fighting back.”
The Independent, 18th June 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Cheap supermarket alcohol could be banned in England – Daily Telegraph
“Shops could be forced to raise the basic cost of alcoholic drinks by a third or more, as part of plans to make it harder for young people to access cheap alcohol.”
Daily Telegraph, 18th June 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Legal Opinion: Labour’s review of the right to bail chips away at justice – The Independent
“When a judge releases a murderer to kill again there is bound to be a public outcry. But, asks Robert Verkaik, Law Editor, is justice always served by a knee-jerk reaction?”
The Independent, 18th June 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Bin Laden lieutenant’ Abu Qatada freed on bail – The Times
“Abu Qatada, the radical Muslim cleric described as one of Osama bin Laden’s right-hand men, was freed from jail last night under some of the most stringent bail conditions ever imposed by a British court.”
The Times, 18th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
