“The memories of witnesses are flawed, marred by gaps or inventions and should not be relied upon in court cases, researchers say.”
The Times, 11th July 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Prosecutions are at risk of not going ahead even if fast-track plans to allow witnesses anonymity in court are approved, the Director of Public Prosecutions said yesterday.”
The Times, 9th July 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“A ‘large number’ of court cases could be ‘at risk’ if judges do not have the power to grant anonymity to witnesses, MPs and peers have been told.”
BBC News, 8th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“MPs are to debate emergency legislation to restore trial judges’ powers to grant anonymity to witnesses.”
BBC News, 8th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“The Bar Council has prepared a Parliamentary Briefing on the Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill 2008 which is being taken through its Commons Second Reading stage tomorrow, Tuesday 8 July 2008.”
Parliamentary Briefing Paper (PDF)
The Bar Council, 7th July 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“The Witness and Victim Experience Survey is a national telephone survey that explores victims’ and witnesses’ experiences of the criminal justice system in England and Wales in cases that have resulted in criminal charges.
This report explores the provision of information and services to victims and witnesses in cases closed between February 2005 to January 2006, and of the progress made at a local and national level against key criminal justice system initiatives.”
Early findings from the Witness and Victim Experience Survey: information and service provision (PDF)
Ministry of Justice, 3rd July 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“Emergency legislation to restore trial judges’ powers to grant anonymity to witnesses has been unveiled by Justice Secretary Jack Straw. ”
BBC News, 3rd July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“It was 9am on New Year’s Day in Hackney, east London, and still party time. A flat in an unremarkable side street had been rented by two Ethiopians for the festivities.
Six years later, that double murder is at the centre of the current storm over anonymity of witnesses which has prompted the justice secretary, Jack Straw, to introduce an emergency bill on the subject which will be rushed through the Commons next week.”
The Guardian, 30th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Jack Straw, the justice secretary, will introduce an emergency bill in the Commons next week to try to stop hundreds of serious criminal cases collapsing because of concerns about anonymous witnesses. Announcing the move yesterday, he said the bill was expected to go through all its Commons stages the week beginning July 7.”
The Guardian, 27th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“When Jacqui Smith heard last week that the judiciary had effectively outlawed courtroom protection for witnesses, she thought of her conversations with the mothers of Letisha Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis.”
The Times, 25th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“A House of Lords judgement on witness anonymity has created huge headaches for courts and lawmakers – but is there a way forward?”
BBC Law in Action, 24th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“Ministers are determined to rush through emergency laws to halt the collapse of criminal cases throughout England and Wales after senior judges ruled that granting witnesses anonymity could make trials unfair.”
The Times, 25th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Scores of trials around England and Wales appeared to be risk today as the impact of a House of Lords ruling last week begins to bite.”
The Times, 24th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“The first major murder trial to be hit by last week’s law lords’ ruling on witness anonymity was halted at the Old Bailey today.”
The Times, 24th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Dozens of Britain’s most dangerous criminals, including murderers and terrorists, could be freed from jail after a potentially ‘disastrous’ ruling by senior judges, a leading police officer has warned.”
Daily Telegraph,
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“10 cases where anonymous witnesses helped secure a conviction.”
Daily Telegraph, 20th June 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“An ‘urgent’ change in the law is being considered to allow anonymous witness evidence to be used in court, the government said today.”
The Guardian, 21st June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
R v Davis [2008] UKHL 36; [2008] WLR (D) 196
“Protective measures, ensuring the anonymity of witnesses without whose evidence the defendant could not have been convicted of murder, denied him the opportunity properly to advance his defence and accordingly rendered his trial unfair.”
WLR Daily, 19th 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.
“Two trials at which anonymous witnesses were about to be called to give evidence were suspended for legal argument yesterday following a House of Lords judgment on Wednesday questioning the growing practice of granting anonymity to frightened witnesses.”
The Guardian, 20th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
House of Lords
“Protective measures, which ensured the anonymity of three witnesses without whose evidence the defendant could not have been convicted of murder, rendered the trial unfair and were, accordingly, unlawful.”
The Times, 19th 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.
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