09/06/2009 – Current Awareness

“David Scott, the chief probation officer who resigned over the murder of two French students by a convicted violent criminal and his accomplice, has launched a scathing attack on the justice secretary, Jack Straw.”

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The Guardian, 9th June 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Murder pleas ‘had to be dropped’ – BBC News

Posted June 9th, 2009 in evidence, murder, news, pleadings by sally

“Two brothers convicted of killing a bank chief expected to face a murder trial until their court case started.”

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BBC News, 9th June 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Time spent in error counts towards FOI rejections, says Information Tribunal – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 9th, 2009 in freedom of information, news by sally

“An organisation is allowed to count time spent on errors in calculating when it can refuse a Freedom Of Information (FOI) Act request, the Information Tribunal has ruled.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 9th June 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Hacker ‘too fragile’ to extradite – BBC News

Posted June 9th, 2009 in computer crime, extradition, mental health, news by sally

“A British computer hacker who targeted Nasa should be tried in the UK not the US because his mental state is so fragile, the High Court has heard.”

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BBC News, 9th June 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Proposed reforms help most in need and deliver significant savings – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 9th, 2009 in legal aid, news by sally

“Plans to divert more legal aid funds to those most in need while delivering better value for taxpayers’ money are on track following the publication of the government’s response to a consultation on Crown Court means testing and Central Funds reforms.”

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Ministry of Justice, 8th June 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

AB and others v Ministry of Defence – WLR Daily

Posted June 9th, 2009 in class actions, law reports, limitations, personal injuries by sally

AB and others v Ministry of Defence [2009] EWHC 1225 (QB); [2009] WLR (D) 174

“In relation to a group action the issue as to when a claimant had “knowledge” for the purposes of ss 12 and 14 of the Limitation Act 1980 was primarily one of fact The state of the claimant’s belief was to be considered, as also whether he thought it necessary to refer his belief to experts, medical or legal, or others. In relation to words used by a witness when being asked about his state of mind at a particular time in the past, his actions (or inactions) at the time about which he was being asked might require the words used or accepted in evidence to be viewed with circumspection.”

WLR Daily, 8th June 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Defendants must help pay own legal fees, government announces – The Guardian

Posted June 9th, 2009 in legal aid, news by sally

“Defendants in some serious criminal trials including cases of murder, manslaughter and rape will have to contribute to their own legal fees under plans announced by the government today.”

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The Guardian, 8th June 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Cherie Booth turns mediator to cut legal costs for companies – The Times

Posted June 9th, 2009 in barristers, costs, dispute resolution, news by sally

“Cherie Booth, QC, and Lord Woolf, the former Lord Chief Justice, will spearhead a new scheme today aimed at saving big companies millions of pounds in legal costs by settling disputes out of court.”

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The Times, 9th June 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Man jailed over erectile dysfunction drugs – The Independent

Posted June 9th, 2009 in money laundering, news, sentencing by sally

“A former bankrupt businessman who funded a luxury lifestyle by selling millions of pounds worth of unlicensed Viagra-like drugs over the internet was jailed for two years yesterday.”

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The Independent, 9th June 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Fertility doctor Mohamed Taranissi awarded libel settlement with BBC – The Times

Posted June 9th, 2009 in BBC, defamation, news by sally

“The BBC faces a multimillion-pound legal bill after settling a libel battle with one of Britain’s most successful fertility doctors.”

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The Times, 9th June 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Judge accused of using racial slur against gypsies – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 9th, 2009 in judges, news, racism by sally

“A judge has been accused of using a ‘racial slur’ against gypsies while sentencing a conman, who he said had ‘gypped’ a student out of money.”

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Daily Telegraph, 9th June 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

DNA policy ‘stigmatises children’ – BBC News

Posted June 9th, 2009 in children, data protection, DNA, news by sally

“DNA samples are being taken from children in a London borough at the rate of nearly one a day, figures show.”

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BBC News, 8th June 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Justice at last for the 29 victims of Omagh bombing – The Independent

Posted June 9th, 2009 in damages, news, personal injuries, terrorism by sally

“A landmark legal victory for relatives of victims of the Omagh bombing could open the way for those bereaved in London’s 7/7 attacks to sue the perpetrators for damages, it was claimed yesterday.”

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The Independent, 9th June 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk