August 2010 – Current Awareness

“The true explanation for the murder of Gareth Williams, the MI6 codebreaker found dead in a bath, may have to be kept secret even if his killer is found and put on trial, lawyers have warned.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st August 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Catholic church using time limit to suppress child abuse cases, says lawyer – The Guardian

Posted August 31st, 2010 in child abuse, news, time limits by sally

“The Roman Catholic church was accused today of using the legal system to suppress evidence of clerical sex abuse after a Jesuit-run school lost an appeal against a court ruling giving a former pupil the right to pursue a £5m civil action.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th August 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

GMC to make ruling on Tomlinson pathologist – The Independent

Posted August 31st, 2010 in disciplinary procedures, news, pathologists, professional conduct by sally

“A disciplinary panel will make a ruling today on the fitness to practise of the pathologist who first ruled that newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson died from natural causes at the G20 protest.”

Full story

The Independent, 31st August 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mesothelioma: Hospice wins landmark victory in asbestos cancer case – The Guardian

Posted August 31st, 2010 in asbestos, cancer, care homes, charities, industrial injuries, news, personal injuries by sally

“Hospices that care for victims of a form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure hope to get help with treatment costs following a landmark court ruling.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th August 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

7/7 bomber’s widow loses legal aid bid – The Independent

Posted August 27th, 2010 in appeals, inquests, legal aid, news, terrorism by sally

“The widow of one of the 7/7 suicide bombers today lost her High Court bid to overturn a decision refusing her legal aid for representation at the upcoming inquest into the deaths of 52 people in the attacks in London in 2005.”

Full story

The Independent, 27th August 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted August 27th, 2010 in legislation by sally

The Public Rights of Way (Combined Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2010

The Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Teenager sentenced for killing soldier – The Independent

Posted August 27th, 2010 in homicide, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“A teenager who killed a soldier just days before he was returning home to his family for Christmas was detained for two and half years today.”

Full story

The Independent, 27th August 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

15 years for man who raped 10-year-old girl – The Independent

Posted August 27th, 2010 in children, news, rape, sentencing by sally

“A married father of one who repeatedly raped a 10-year-old girl then tried to blame her for what happened was jailed for 15 years today.”

Full story

The Independent, 27th August 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Married teacher jailed over teenage sex charges – The Independent

Posted August 27th, 2010 in children, news, sentencing, sexual offences, teachers by sally

“A married teacher who had sexual relationships with three teenage girls was jailed today for nearly seven years, court officials said.”

Full story

The Independent, 27th August 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

High UK legal costs deter challenges to environmental damage, UN warns – The Guardian

Posted August 27th, 2010 in costs, environmental protection, news, United Nations by sally

“The government is making it too expensive for campaigners to take environmental planning battles through UK courts, a UN tribunal has warned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th August 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted August 27th, 2010 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Raggett v Society of Jesus Trust of 1929 for Roman Catholic Purposes & Anor [2010] EWCA Civ 1002 (27 August 2010)

High Court (Chancery Division)

HM Revenue and Customs v Marks and Spencer Plc [2010] EWHC 2215 (Ch) (27 August 2010)

Source: www.bailii.org

Heathrow cabin crew manager sentenced for tobacco smuggling – UK Border Agency

Posted August 27th, 2010 in customs and excise, news, sentencing by sally

“A British Airways cabin crew member, who used his position to illegally import tobacco into the UK through Heathrow Airport, received a 120-hour community punishment order on 20 August. The potential revenue loss on the smuggled tobacco is estimated at around £18,000.”

Full story

UK Border Agency, 27th August 2010

Source: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

Pregnant girlfriend attacker given reduced sentence – BBC News

Posted August 27th, 2010 in domestic violence, grievous bodily harm, news, sentencing by sally

“A man who twice attacked his pregnant girlfriend has had his sentence cut after the judge held both responsible for the ‘difficult relationship’.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th August 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Asil Nadir trial could be ‘prosecutorial nightmare’, warn experts – The Guardian

Posted August 27th, 2010 in fraud, news, Serious Fraud Office, trials by sally

“A lengthy jury trial of the 69-year-old would be a ‘prosecutorial nightmare’ unprecedented in the history of the Serious Fraud Office, legal experts with knowledge of the case warned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th August 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High Court judge brands welfare tender ‘irrational’ – Law Society Gazette

Posted August 27th, 2010 in judges, legal aid by sally

“A High Court judge has … branded some of the criteria used by the Legal Services Commission in its recent social welfare tender ‘utterly absurd and totally irrational’.”

Full story

Law Society Gazette, 26th August 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Courtenay Griffiths: Defending Charles Taylor

Posted August 27th, 2010 in barristers, news, war crimes by sally

“Our system of justice cannot operate unless there is a semblance of equality between prosecution and defence. Otherwise it becomes an inquisition and that would soon lose the confidence of the public.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th August 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk