Undercover policing inquiry: officers giving evidence might receive immunity – The Guardian

Posted July 29th, 2015 in evidence, immunity, inquiries, news, police, spying by sally

‘Undercover police officers who disclose crucial evidence to a public inquiry into the covert infiltration of political groups could be given immunity from prosecution.’

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The Guardian, 28th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Challenging fraudulent judgments – Radcliffe Chambers

Posted July 28th, 2015 in evidence, expert witnesses, forgery, fraud, news, setting aside by sally

‘To set aside a judgment on the grounds of fraud, is it necessary to show that the evidence of fraud was unavailable at the trial and could not have been obtained with reasonablediligence? In May 2015, two High Court Judges gave totally contradictory answers to this question. ‘

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Radcliffe Chambers, 15th June 2015

Source: www.radcliffechambers.com

Covert surveillance activities need independent oversight, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 27th, 2015 in evidence, investigatory powers, media, news, telecommunications by sally

‘The use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) for covert surveillance should be overseen by independent judges to ensure the appropriate legislation is being used, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 23rf July 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Met police to face tribunal over decision to access Plebgate phone records – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police is being taken to court in a landmark case over its decision to secretly obtain journalists’ phone records in an attempt to identify the mole behind the Plebgate saga involving the then cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell.’

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The Guardian, 14th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid restrictions for domestic abuse loosened – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 9th, 2015 in domestic violence, evidence, legal aid, news, regulations, trials, victims by sally

‘The government has loosened a controversial restriction preventing some victims of domestic abuse from accessing legal aid.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 8th July 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Jailed barrister Constance Briscoe loses appeal over conviction – The Guardian

Posted July 9th, 2015 in appeals, barristers, evidence, news, perverting the course of justice by sally

‘One of Britain’s first black female judges, who was jailed for lying to police investigating the Chris Huhne speeding points scandal, has lost an appeal against her conviction.’

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The Guardian, 8th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Don’t shred evidence, judge warns ahead of child sex abuse inquiry – The Guardian

Posted July 9th, 2015 in documents, evidence, inquiries, news, sexual offences by sally

‘The long-awaited independent inquiry into child sexual abuse opens on Thursday in London amid renewed warnings to the cabinet secretary, religious leaders and public bodies not to shred documents which might be needed in evidence.’

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The Guardian, 9th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Lord Janner U-turn: what is the public interest in a trial of the act? – Crimeline

‘Yesterday’s U-turn concerning the decision to prosecute Lord Janner for alleged child sex offences has thrown a spotlight onto a procedure in English criminal law called the “trial of the act”. What is this procedure and what purpose does it serve? And why has its application to Lord Janner’s case proved controversial?’

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Crimeline, 30th June 2015

Source: www.crimeline.info

Litigants in person, mental health, and relief from sanctions – Zenith PI Blog

‘An application for an extension of time to serve medical evidence by a litigant in person with a mental health disability was refused where there had been a number of breaches and considerable delay, effectivly bringing proceedings to a halt. Appeal to Court of Appeal dismissed.’

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Zenith PI Blog, 26th June 2015

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Activist’s conviction to be quashed after undercover officer testified at trial – The Guardian

Posted June 24th, 2015 in Criminal Cases Review Commission, evidence, news, police, spying by sally

‘The criminal conviction of a campaigner is to be quashed after prosecutors admitted an undercover police officer gave evidence in a court case using a fake identity. Michael Gracia’s conviction for assaulting an officer during a pro-cycling demonstration is to be overturned as prosecutors conceded one of the co-defendants at his original trial was working undercover for the police.’

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The Guardian, 23rd June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lynette White: Civil action after failed police corruption trial – BBC News

Posted June 24th, 2015 in corruption, DNA, evidence, murder, news, police, trials by sally

‘A date has been set for High Court civil action following the collapse of the UK’s biggest police corruption trial.’

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BBC News, 23rd June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Murderer seeks to overturn ban on secret evidence going to Strasbourg – The Guardian

Posted June 23rd, 2015 in evidence, human rights, intelligence services, media, news, Supreme Court, trials by sally

‘A convicted murderer who claims he is the victim of a miscarriage of justice is seeking to overturn a ban on secret evidence about the security services being disclosed to European judges. The supreme court’s hearing of the unprecedented case of Wang Yam could add to the strain on the UK’s relationship with the European court of human rights (ECHR).’

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The Guardian, 22nd June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Coroner in SAS inquest blocks release of witness statements – The Guardian

‘A coroner hearing the inquest of three men who suffered fatal heat illness during an SAS training march in south Wales has refused to allow the release of witness statements, concluding that their publication could threaten any future criminal prosecutions. The Guardian and other media organisations argued that in the interest of open justice, statements taken by detectives investigating the tragedy on the Brecon Beacons and provided to the inquest should be released to allow the proceedings to be reported fully.’

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The Guardian, 19th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Are ‘paedophile hunters’ hindering police? – BBC News

‘Groups posing as under-age girls online to expose suspected paedophiles – commonly referred to as ‘paedophile hunters’ – say they gain quicker results than police. But is their work undermining official investigations?’

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BBC News, 4th June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Children Public Law Update – Family Law Week

‘John Tughan QC of 4 Paper Buildings reviews recent judgments of particular importance to all practitioners in public children law.’

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Family Law Week, 28th May 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Stacey Hyde cleared of murder in retrial – The Guardian

‘A young woman who faced a retrial for the murder of man with a history of domestic violence has been acquitted after a jury heard how she acted in self-defence. Stacey Hyde, 22, was ordered to face a second trial by the director of public prosecutions, Alison Saunders, after the court of appeal quashed her original murder conviction last year.’

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The Guardian, 21st May 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rape victim falsely accused of lying by police wins £20,000 payout – The Guardian

‘A rape victim falsely accused of lying by detectives has won £20,000 in damages after suing police under the Human Rights Act. The woman, who cannot be named, was 17 when a man raped her in Winchester in April 2012 after a night out with friends. Her mother reported the attack hours later and the victim told officers her T-shirt may contain her attacker’s DNA.’

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The Guardian, 22nd May 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Susan Workman murder: Killer’s family post ad to trace jury – BBC News

Posted May 22nd, 2015 in advertising, divorce, domestic violence, evidence, juries, media, murder, news by sally

‘The family of a man jailed for murdering his ex-wife have taken out a newspaper advert in an attempt to trace the jurors involved in his trial, prompting a police investigation.’

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BBC News, 20th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Takhar v Gracefield Developments Ltd – WLR Daily

Posted May 21st, 2015 in evidence, fraud, judgments, law reports, setting aside by sally

Takhar v Gracefield Developments Ltd [2015] EWHC 1276 (Ch); [2015] WLR (D) 206

‘A judgment could be set aside for fraud even if the new evidence could reasonably have been obtained for the original trial.’

WLR Daily, 6th May 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Police force fined £160k after losing DVDs of interview with abuse victim – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 19th, 2015 in data protection, evidence, fines, news, police, video recordings by sally

‘The Information Commissioner’s Office has imposed a £160,000 monetary penalty on a police force after it lost DVDs of an interview which formed part of the evidence in a sexual abuse case.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th May 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk