‘A woman with a history of violence and mental health problems who confessed to killing seven-year-old Emily Jones, has been cleared of murder.’
The Guardian, 4th December 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘On 2nd November 2020, Nicol J handed down his eagerly awaited judgment in Depp v News Group Newspapers and anor [2020] EWHC 2911 (QB). This high-profile case has been widely reported and needs little introduction. In short, Mr Depp failed in his defamation claim concerning an article published by The Sun that alleged that he had committed acts of violence against his then-wife Amber Heard. Nicol J held that the defendants had proved it was “substantially true” that Mr Depp had committed acts of violence against Ms Heard on twelve pleaded occasions.’
Doughty Street Chambers, 6th November 2020
Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk
‘The rapper Ceon Broughton has had his conviction for the manslaughter of his girlfriend overturned by the court of appeal.’
The Guardian, 18th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The jail terms handed to three teenagers who killed a police officer as they tried to escape the scene of a crime have been referred to the attorney general, who will consider claims they are unduly lenient.’
The Guardian, 4th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Rape prosecutions and convictions have halved in three years, prompting concerns that the offence is effectively being decriminalised. These are some of the challenges rape victims face in getting their cases to court.’
The Guardian, 30th July 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland has dropped a widely criticised plan to replace juries in some criminal trials with a judge and two magistrates.’
Legal Futures, 23rd July 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘This month’s newsletter comprises articles from:
Nigel Edwards Q.C. and Daniel Walker– “Sentencing Serious Violent and Sexual Offenders”;
Ayesha Smart and Nigel Edwards Q.C. – “Section 13(1) Terrorism Act 2000 offences- are they strict liability?”;
Sharmila Salvi – “Second Post Mortem Examinations – The Defence Position”;
Andrew Kerr – “Adverse Inferences”; and
Rabia Mir – “How High Fiving Police Officers Turned Off a Jury”.’
33 Bedford Row, 6th July 2020
Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk
‘The Secretary of State for Justice recently confirmed that the government is considering whether to introduce primary legislation to suspend jury trials for offences triable either way as a way to address the backlog of criminal cases arising from the public health crisis. This development has caused alarm amongst practitioners who might be hoping that Humphreys J was right when he said: “I cannot bring myself to believe that there are any persons other than the inmates of a lunatic asylum who would vote in favour of the abolition of trial by jury in serious criminal cases” (Do We Need a Jury? [1954] Crim LR 457).’
6 KBW College Hill, 30th June 2020
Source: blog.6kbw.com
‘Proposals to scrap juries for some trials to reduce court backlogs would remove the “only part of the criminal justice process” proven not to discriminate against minority ethnic groups, a legal expert has warned.’
Each Other, 9th July 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
‘So reports Owen Bowcott, the legal affairs correspondent for The Guardian today. “Nightingale” courts being venues which have been identified as suitable for trials utilising public spaces such a civic centres or university moot halls; apparently to be renamed Blackstone Courts.’
Thomas More Chambers, 3rd July 2020
Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk
‘Madeleine Whelan, barrister of Fourteen, considers how much weight judges might give to witnesses’ demeanour when evaluating their evidence in the light of a recent judgment by Mrs Justice Lieven.’
Family Law Week, 29th June 2020
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
‘The backlog of untried cases in the criminal justice system – which has ballooned during lockdown – could take a decade to clear, an official watchdog has warned.’
The Guardian, 30th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Virtual trials with physical jury hubs could be an effective way of clearing the significant Crown court backlog caused by Covid-19, academics evaluating the latest experiment from a legal thinktank have said.’
Law Society's Gazette, 19th June 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Less serious crimes should be tried in crown courts before a judge without a jury in order to tackle the thousands of cases building up during the pandemic crisis, judges have suggested.’
The Guardian, 16th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘For seven weeks Covid-19 shut the doors of jury trials in England and Wales. On 11th May 2020, the Lord Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor announced the resumption of new jury trials in “certain courtrooms under certain conditions” from 18th May 2020. In the interim, two guinea pig trials resumed at the Old Bailey.’
Doughty Street Chambers, 18th May 2020
Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk
‘The pandemic has led to big changes in trials, many of of which are likely to be permanent.’
The Guardian, 24th May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A pilot scheme has begun to restart jury trials in the UK after they were halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.’
BBC News, 18th May 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘With Covid-19 having driven jury-trials to a grinding halt, it is no overstatement to suggest that justice itself has been suspended.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 7th May 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘Jury trials will resume under physical distancing restrictions in a limited number of crown courts in England and Wales from 18 May, the lord chief justice has announced.’
The Guardian, 11th May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
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