tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64784613479242759192024-03-13T12:52:54.566+00:00Open Justice UKOpen Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-5460469238706328242012-05-31T00:24:00.003+01:002012-06-01T20:37:25.695+01:00The Heart of Justice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/5/30/1338408596455/Andy-Coulson--008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/5/30/1338408596455/Andy-Coulson--008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We heard it often during the trial. Perjury was one of the worst crimes of all, "Striking at the Heart of Justice." was how the Advocate Depute liked to put it to the jury. The Judge gave Tommy Sheridan three years imprisonment. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two years on the mood music has changed. </span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Andy Coulson is detained for alleged perjury at the perjury trial and, suddenly, lying in court is less of a big deal. </span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Any idea that the guilty verdict and subsequent jail sentence suffered by Tommy Sheridan may have been influenced by two days of allegedly false testimony given to the jury by Mr Coulson is being laughed off. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The argument that phone hacking is irrelevant to the Sheridan trial is not a new one, it was extensively discussed in 2010 as the case proceeded. Indeed the Crown objected to evidence about the issue being presented to the jury a number of times. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The presiding judge, Lord Bracadale ruled on this issue. He decided that, as a part of the accused's defence rested on the idea that persons employed by News International had conspired to “do him in” , it was perfectly legitimate for the defence to lead evidence about News Group’s practices, hence Andrew Coulson giving evidence at all.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can also note that the police’s decision to charge Mr Coulson must have included consideration of this legal definition of perjury in Scottish Law:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All that is required is that it should be clearly understood that a charge of perjury will not lie unless the evidence alleged to be false was both competent and relevant at the earlier trial, either in proof of the libel or in relation to the credibility of the witness.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is important to stress that no-one, least of all Mr Coulson, has been convicted of anything yet and as far as I am aware there is no active appeal from Tommy Sheridan against his conviction. What strikes me though is the dismissal of the simple concept that any guilty verdict is in question when a witness is charged with lying in court. </span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James Doleman. </span></b>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-47360800173829538842012-05-01T21:06:00.002+01:002012-05-02T01:31:39.438+01:00Joan McAlpine, Hacking and the News of the World<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan McAlpine MSP</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Scottish Daily Record <a href="http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics-news/2012/05/01/news-of-the-world-hacked-phone-of-alex-salmond-aide-joan-mcalpine-86908-23843414/" target="_blank">reported today</a> that the contact details of Joan McAlpine MSP were found in the notebooks of convicted phone hacker Glen Mulcaire. Ms McAlpine also devoted her <a href="http://blogs.dailyrecord.co.uk/joanmcalpine/2012/05/labours-hypocrisy-over-phone-hacking.html" target="_blank">regular column</a> in the paper to her reaction to this news. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent much of 2010 covering Tommy Sheridan's trial for perjury and the news that Ms McAlpine was a potential victim of phone hacking rang a bell. It turned out her name had been mentioned during the trial, and after some searching of my notebooks I've managed to locate the reference.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It came from Crown Witness Anvar Khan, who in 2006 was employed by the Scottish News of the World as a columnist. Ms Khan was asked by the Advocate Depute about a series of meetings she had with the newspaper's Scottish editor, Bob Bird. One discussion mentioned was at the newspaper's Christmas party. At this event, Ms Khan testified, she had asked Mr Bird 'what stories the paper was working on' ? According to Ms Khan he replied "We have information on Joan McAlpine."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the time, no-one followed up on that statement, it was irrelevant to the case in hand so received no attention from the assembled press corps (myself included) . However given today's revelations it raises an interesting question. The focus so far of the phone hacking enquiry has been on the national edition of the News of the World. However it is difficult to see why the News of the World nationally would be interested in the the goings on of SNP candidates and Scottish ministers. If phone hacking of prominent Scottish people did take place, would the instructions not ne more likely to come from Kinning Park than Wapping?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strathclyde police are currently engaged in a major investigation on these matters,<a href="http://www.strathclyde.police.uk/index.asp?locID=1586&docID=8776" target="_blank"> Operation Rubicon </a> We cannot, pre-judge that enquiry but surely now the position of the Scottish Government, that phone hacking is an exclusively "English" problem is becoming untenable. </span></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-51469448569572028682012-04-27T12:30:00.000+01:002012-04-27T17:41:59.846+01:00Muirhead and McKenzie Sentenced to Five Years<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The High Court in Glasgow</td></tr>
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<i>"</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><i>"It is immediately obvious that we were not dealing with what would properly be thought of as acts of terrorism in any sense at all."</i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"> Lord Turnbull </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the High Court in Glasgow today Neil McKenzie and Trevor Muirhead received prison sentences after being found guilty of "Conspiracy to assault" by sending improvised explosive devices to Celtic Manager Neil Lennon, The late Paul McBride QC, Trish Godman MSP and the offices of Cairde Na hEireann in Glasgow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord Turnbull handed down sentences of five years imprisonment for the above charge, with an additional sentence of 18 months for Muirhead for sending the first package to Neil Lennon (the jury acquitted McKenzie of that charge) Given time served they will both be eligible for parole in two to three years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both men were originally charged with conspiracy to murder aggravated by religious hatred. However the religious hatred element was dropped by the Crown just before the trial commenced and the murder charge was <a href="http://openjusticeuk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/intent-and-murder.html" target="_blank">removed by Lord Turnbull</a> towards the end of the case. Unsurprisingly members of the defence team were pleased with the sentence with one senior member telling me "No-one can argue with that." Reaction from other quarters has been less approving, with many people taking to Twitter to express dismay at what they consider the leniency of the sentences.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neil McKenzie and Trevor Muirhead</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his sentencing statement Lord Turnbull made reference to the previous good character of the two men,saying </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em;"> it</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was "incomprehensible that two such family men would engage in such serious criminal and reckless conduct" and</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em;"> "I can't fathom what was in your minds at the time when you did this."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">As the men offered no evidence in their defence, and did not speak in court, their motives have never been properly explored, other than a police interview with Neil McKenzie who said his co-</span><span style="line-height: 24px;">accused had a</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> "</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> "pure hatred and it seems to be aimed at Neil Lennon and anything to do with Celtic Football Club." </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Police have never located where Mckenzie and Muirhead assembled the potentially explosive packages nor did they retrieve any "useful forensic material" from them. In the trial it was argued that the devices they were sending were <a href="http://openjusticeuk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/bombs-and-hoaxes.html" target="_blank">becoming more sophisticated</a> as time went on, If they had not been caught, detectives are convinced they "could have killed"</span></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-9541629282644030172012-04-27T10:16:00.000+01:002012-04-27T12:03:18.825+01:00Muirhead/McKenzie sentencing live blogOutside court defence team "happy" with sentence but announce intention to appeal verdict.
court now clearing, family members of accused leaving and making comments to press that this is "not justice"
Lord Turbulll now addresses court. "incomprehensible two family men would take such actions"
Convicted of sending improvised explosive devices. Could result in "double figure sentence" Judge has duty to act in a "discriminating manner"'these were not " acts of terrorism in the traditional sense" Devices could not have exploded, no detonator"
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sentence of 5 years
Findlay 'nothing to be said that was not said at trial"
Donald Findlay QC. "I can say nothing about the facts" commends Jackson's position. His client has "worked all his life"
MrJackson QC begins his mitigation speech. Points out no-one injured by his client. Accepts intent to injure but argues devices 'non viable'
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court rises for Lord Turbull and the sentencing diet begins.
Families of Muirhead and McKenzie now being seated in court.Convicted men now.in dock flanked by security guards.
Previous case now over, awaiting Lord Turnbull
Welcome to our live blog of the sentencing of Trevor Muirhead and Neil McKenzie who wer convicted last month of sending improvised explosive devices to figures associated with Celtic Football club The High Court will be hearing speeches in mitigation from the men's lawyers before sentence is passed.
The court is now dealing with another case.sentencing expected to begin at 10.30Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-82313544901008598322012-04-01T13:55:00.000+01:002012-04-27T22:17:12.421+01:00Hoaxes and Bombs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>This is the second of a series of articles about the trial <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Advocate_v_Muirhead_and_McKenzie" target="_blank">Neil McKenzie and Trevor Muirhead</a> The first can be found <a href="http://openjusticeuk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/intent-and-murder.html" target="_blank">Here</a></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwu_Fb0yCiREqWhUklXXybWo1WZ1g3X85BtNWjIrrzp5otIjUWDVZjsv2Zktr9jBAk_Jofzcmu46ymRUGw0vTL2NiZkd9ezJlJ6aBdL9oTqbj7jTWns5OT-Dl2JKZbc8vb6G3-OFsn2gJ/s1600/mckenziemuirhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwu_Fb0yCiREqWhUklXXybWo1WZ1g3X85BtNWjIrrzp5otIjUWDVZjsv2Zktr9jBAk_Jofzcmu46ymRUGw0vTL2NiZkd9ezJlJ6aBdL9oTqbj7jTWns5OT-Dl2JKZbc8vb6G3-OFsn2gJ/s320/mckenziemuirhead.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neil McKenzie and Trevor Muirhead</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the trial in Glasgow of Neil McKenzie and Trevor Muirhead much of the debate in court revolved around the precise nature of the devices they sent to Celtic manager Neil Lennon and others. Defence advocates Gordon Jackson and Donald Findlay claimed they were "hoax" devices, designed to frighten and intimidate but not to explode. The Crown agreed </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that the devices could not have exploded but contended the accused believed they could have, and were therefore guilty of an attempt to assault. The jury found this proved and found both men guilty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that the trial is over we can report some of what was revealed in court about the devices. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypnuLXAWyM7xeajEtPCNX_lJOuUAcHY7lBAMC1QhsezsGflMG2wFbSVJ159mCZs8OPxn2TDGEgfhSF60sHjpSPpMvgdPJ4IqsXQbivxoYJ1XHCPoerUFs8IxRCGjqDZ6E0eQildeDHbCw/s1600/Front+of+bomb+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypnuLXAWyM7xeajEtPCNX_lJOuUAcHY7lBAMC1QhsezsGflMG2wFbSVJ159mCZs8OPxn2TDGEgfhSF60sHjpSPpMvgdPJ4IqsXQbivxoYJ1XHCPoerUFs8IxRCGjqDZ6E0eQildeDHbCw/s320/Front+of+bomb+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first package</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first package was collected by a postal worker from Saltcoats on 4 March 2011. The address is badly scrawled, probably due to someone using their "wrong" hand to disguise their writing. There were also nails sticking out of the package. The postal worker took the envelope to the sorting office where police were called. After an examination the a police officer used a pair of scissors to open the bag.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxxLnHWl3cKl-LTwDFBwhmjOXwkkvnYWaWtO7tx0ES_JdMIiAAMZGa_stxV3oxAxUqE0MHfoC6KKH8bzsrqX3AiaqJjFKNMDvrPJquK6m_15ApmNFF_Pukpe1JpTcYkePAUWCWfkA2yVv/s1600/bomb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxxLnHWl3cKl-LTwDFBwhmjOXwkkvnYWaWtO7tx0ES_JdMIiAAMZGa_stxV3oxAxUqE0MHfoC6KKH8bzsrqX3AiaqJjFKNMDvrPJquK6m_15ApmNFF_Pukpe1JpTcYkePAUWCWfkA2yVv/s320/bomb-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First package contents</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inside were 248 nails, a wire and a lump of a "putty like substance. This was clearly a hoax device as it had no detonator and no explosive. Police treated it as such and removed it for investigation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second device was spotted by on 26 March by a postal worker in Kirkintilloch post office. It had a typewritten label and was addressed to Neil Lennon at Celtic's Lennoxtown training ground. The worker observed that this also had nails protruding from it and brought it to the attention of the depot manager. She moved the package to a piece of waste ground near the sorting office and called the police. They arrived and, after examining it, opened the envelope. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUJ0s-WGVbivN3xW2E6vEigT4P_2PgO86au86MbGC6uD2BrVVpFm_sVMIYyNyOd_EOXMp_z5-mApkiiw3KuHbvs5Q25G7DqrmNjPoHdI6-4Rqbsn1b8XTILuUnfglwrQqtilZOvL7Q3dF/s1600/Bomb+2+lennoxtown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUJ0s-WGVbivN3xW2E6vEigT4P_2PgO86au86MbGC6uD2BrVVpFm_sVMIYyNyOd_EOXMp_z5-mApkiiw3KuHbvs5Q25G7DqrmNjPoHdI6-4Rqbsn1b8XTILuUnfglwrQqtilZOvL7Q3dF/s320/Bomb+2+lennoxtown.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lennoxtown package</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This package contained nails and a digital timer connected by wires to a plastic travel bottle containing around 100ml of liquid. Police again concluded that this was not a "viable" explosive device as it lacked any sort of power source, so they took it back to their divisional office for examination.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On 28th March 2011 two more devices were discovered, one was delivered to the constituency office of Trish Goodman MSP where it was opened by a researcher but did not explode. The second was due to be delivered to the Glasgow offices of </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cairdè na H'Eireann on 29 March but as the postal staff could not access the building it was sent to the </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">National Returns Mail Centre in Belfast where it was opened. In both cases the devices were similar to the Lennoxtown package containing nails, a timing device and a small quantity of liquid. Again police decided these were not "viable" devices but events the same day in Greenock were to challenge this Police perception.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPT_kmURzbl4Gq-fLLE5XG7em3VYYwdLGCNtLywEUxj9AKq7iaxANYvuSARyKVS_tj897SZe8Y7AbfMpgQ72wuyowp6cpRRv3thRpsh-pOdDWei94qHKVqVmpdlfK39CrrVeXSyvYYprzm/s1600/m+Buying+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPT_kmURzbl4Gq-fLLE5XG7em3VYYwdLGCNtLywEUxj9AKq7iaxANYvuSARyKVS_tj897SZe8Y7AbfMpgQ72wuyowp6cpRRv3thRpsh-pOdDWei94qHKVqVmpdlfK39CrrVeXSyvYYprzm/s320/m+Buying+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trevor Muirhead purchasing bomb components</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">On that Monday Chief Petty Officer Lee Yates, a Royal Navy bomb disposal expert, arrived at Greenock police station to examine the Lennoxtown package. Yates field tested the liquid from the device and obtained a positive result for some of the components of </span>Triacetone Triperoxide<span style="line-height: 16px;">, a </span><span style="line-height: 16px;">powerful explosive. In testimony CPO Yates stated that in his opinion the presence of explosives made it not a "hoax" but a package with "all the components of an improvised explosive device." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">It was this, along with other information that led to Strathclyde police to issue a public warning for prominent people associated with Celtic Football Club to be on their guard for </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/20/famous-celtic-fans-warned-over-bombs" target="_blank">'viable incendiary devices'</a> . </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;">When the Northern Irish police were informed of the test results they employed a Belfast based</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;">based</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"> army bomb disposal team retreive the bottle of liquid from the </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cairde na hEireann package, place it behind blast walls and destroy it with burning diesel fuel.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the case the defence argued their clients innocence of the basis that the packages they had sent out were not explosive devices. Donald Findlay QC, for Neil McKenzie, argued that you could no more make these explode that you could "swim the English Channel by standing in Dover and staring at France." The Crown's case was that if these were merely hoax bombs why had the men taken the time and trouble to manufacture an explosive chemical and place it inside? It was this argument, that the men had meant the packages to explode but lacked the skill to achieve this, that the jury found proven.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Police have never located where Mckenzie and Muirhead assembled the potentially explosive packages nor did they retrieve any useful forensic material from them. However they are sure that as time went on and the bombers became more sophisticated they could have killed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James Doleman</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-70127488696353213612012-03-31T17:39:00.001+01:002012-04-27T12:14:09.653+01:00Intent and Murder<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPbLLmtehrX3IKTEiU2yasFs7DRGRqUkFekV2Yazy7e-9j04dEGqRt9Uhfez_pHbZhzBlok-Unel2FI6AIuw80osmlbsRf3UnrlGLjdgbHRP8IA3uu35gsqqzxUMQ83yEZRVKCjtxYrpQ/s1600/gordonjackson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPbLLmtehrX3IKTEiU2yasFs7DRGRqUkFekV2Yazy7e-9j04dEGqRt9Uhfez_pHbZhzBlok-Unel2FI6AIuw80osmlbsRf3UnrlGLjdgbHRP8IA3uu35gsqqzxUMQ83yEZRVKCjtxYrpQ/s200/gordonjackson.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon Jackson QC</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpdk5mvRe94J4I98Bzv1aUdzUDrUFmVliywTMvhj7nU3JGLcn_kePWyrNdUD2npylIa1ZPCKriGOBgqvBZkU7tSnTjTt4bb47FdwG-lOTQb9vxQDh42N7yFf5ni-SJ0lpwbxG1k3XJo7f/s1600/turnbull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpdk5mvRe94J4I98Bzv1aUdzUDrUFmVliywTMvhj7nU3JGLcn_kePWyrNdUD2npylIa1ZPCKriGOBgqvBZkU7tSnTjTt4bb47FdwG-lOTQb9vxQDh42N7yFf5ni-SJ0lpwbxG1k3XJo7f/s200/turnbull.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lord Turnbull </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the most interesting, and controversial rulings during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Advocate_v_Muirhead_and_McKenzie" target="_blank">trial of Neil McKenzie and Trevor Muirhead</a> was the decision taken by the presiding judge, Lord Turnbull to direct the Crown to <a href="http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2012/03/29/neil-lennon-bomb-plot-trial-murder-conspiracy-charges-against-pair-changed-to-assault-86908-23805966/" target="_blank">remove the charge</a> of conspiracy to murder from the indictment. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the decision in court happened without the jury present we could not report the reasoning behind that decision, however now that the jury has delivered a </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-17561849" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Guilty verdict</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> we can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Wednesday, at the conclusion of the Advocate Depute's closing speech, Gordon Jackson QC, defending Mr Muirhead, asked the judge if he could discuss a legal matter in the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">absence</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of the jury. Jury members left the court and Mr Jackson then put forward his argument that the Crown had put forward no proper evidence of intent to commit murder in it's closing argument.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr Jackson pointed out that in Scottish law Murder is defined as to "wickedly kill" which means that the act must be intentional, adding that intent to kill had to consist of more than a "pious hope" that someone would lose their life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr Jackson drew an analogy with a murderer attempting to kill his victim by injecting poison into a box of chocolates. In this case a jury could legitimately infer an intent to kill, even if the sender had made a mistake and used a harmless chemical instead. However as the devices sent by Mr Muirhead were, in Mr Jackson's phrase "rubbish", lacking as they did any attempt to create an ignition system, the jury could not reasonably infer an expectation by his client that his actions could lead to someone losing their life. Mr Jackson pointed out that even sending a stick of dynamite through the post could not be seen as attempted murder as, unless the recipient lit the fuse themselves, it could not explode. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Advocate depute responded by reminding Lord Turbull of his decision earlier in the week to deny a motion to dismiss the case from Donald Findlay, arguing that this motion was covering the same ground. Lord Turnbull responded that he regarded Mr Jackson's argument as "more subtle" than the previous motion and adjourned the court while he considered his response.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When court resumed around an hour and a half later Lord Turnbull ruled in favour of Mr Jackson and instructed the Crown to remove the words "Murder" and "Death" from the indictment. The Advocate Depute then asked for permission to appeal this decision to a higher court, which would have involved a two day delay in the trial. Lord Turnbull then adjourned the court briefly and when court resumed the Advocate Depute withdraw his objections. The charge of conspiracy to commit "murder and assault" was then reduced to conspiracy to assault,the charge the jury found both men guilty of on Friday/</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sentencing will take place on the 27th April.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James Doleman </span><br />
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</div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-79584145433241544872012-03-17T13:46:00.000+00:002012-03-17T13:47:31.769+00:00A day in court - real life drama<div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">By </span><span class="HOEnZb adL">Joanna Matwiejczyk, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/jo_mat14" target="_blank"><span class="js-username"><span class="screen-name">@jo_mat14</span></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">On Thursday 1 March,
instead of sitting in what should have been my university lecture, I
was eagerly perched on the edge of my seat watching my first court
case</span><span lang="en-GB">; a fine substitute I’d admit. It was
as though an episode of ‘Law and Order’ was being re-enacted
before my very eyes. </span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Waiting for the case to
commence, I attempted to act as professional as possible. Cue: pen
behind the ear, notebook in hand and reading glasses out. Admittedly
the most cliché image of a journalism student.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">As the solicitors</span><span lang="en-GB">
filed in and took their places, the case began; the matter in hand
being attempted rape. With the accused sitting a mere few metres from
me, I subconsciously couldn’t help but feel perturbed. </span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;">“<span lang="en-GB">An abrasion was
sustained to</span><span lang="en-GB"> the left knee, the left
fore-arm sustained bruising, superficial abrasions on the right
shoulder…” – the solicitor talk shook me hard and the
seriousness of the case was beginning to sink in. I was not here
merely to review first-hand the structure of a court case, but also
to review the likes of the justice system.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Having had 3
witnesses called to the stand, the typical ex-wife, neighbour and
girlfriend of the accused, the drama of it all was an aspect I
wouldn’t have predicted before-hand. </span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Amid the
sophisticatedly robed solicitors and stoic facial expressions around
the room, it was easy to feel out of place, says the girl with her
loud red hair and shabby vintage outfit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Nevertheless, I had
attracted interest from the solicitors during the break, all of whom
were extremely welcoming and willing to strike up a conversation.
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<span style="font-size: small;">Throughout the case, as I
was observing the court room, it was evident that a trend of receding
hairlines was a popular one. What I once believed to be a court room
myth has in fact been confirmed.
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<span style="font-size: small;">A further bemusing aspect
was the confusion of when or whether to stand, or not to stand? To
bow, or not to bow? To openly drink a can of fanta, or to silently
suffer in dehydration? The many complications of a court room.
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Furthermore, what
struck me was how normal the jury looked. I was expecting burly
business men and top hats (or perhaps wishing they’d wear top
hats). In reality, it was as though they’d picked up a group of
people from the local bus stop.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">I had also come to
realise that court cases are not as straightforward as I had
previously presumed due to the amount of evidence to sift through,
including phone recordings and doctor’s statements.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The atmosphere was
tense and the approach, professional till the end. Day 1 of court was
completed, and I felt exhilarated from the experience. No doubt I’ll
be back for more.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Copyright
remains with the author.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB"> </span></span></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-60642397366138985412012-03-06T09:31:00.001+00:002012-03-06T09:31:41.928+00:00Disability and the Law – a New Zealand perspective<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the instigators of Open Justice week posted their plans on Facebook it struck me what a useful project this would be to run in New Zealand. I don’t know where we would find the time or the people, but I do know there’s a real need for people to know what goes on in our courts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m not a lawyer, but I work in the area of disability law in a Community Law Centre. We provide free legal services for disabled people in our region with ‘unmet legal need’ and ‘insufficient means’ to pay for their own lawyer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have just about enough money and office space to employ two part time lawyers. The estimated population of disabled people in the region is something like 77,000. About half have personal incomes of less than $20,000 (under £10,000). That makes the potential client base quite large. Our capacity is quite small.</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our lawyers don’t often take cases to court. Court’s a time-consuming business. Our role is usually to assist clients to resolve matters before they need to go to court, or to find a legal aid lawyer, and then help the lawyer to understand the things they need to know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Disabled people rarely have positive experiences in court. Disability law isn’t compulsory for law students, and in many law schools isn’t even offered. Many lawyers have little or no experience of working with disabled clients. There is no mechanism even for finding out which lawyers have accessible offices. Some lawyers are great, but they are usually overburdened with work as a result.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being able to choose a lawyer who knows about disability isn’t so much of an issue any more, as the Government recently took away the right to choose your legal aid lawyer except in particular cases. Even if your lawyer knows nothing about disability, the best you can now expect if you request a change of lawyer is that you are issued the next lawyer on the roster, with no guarantee they will be a disability expert either.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s often little time to consult with your lawyer anyway. Sometimes clients are lucky if they see their lawyer before they walk into court for their first appearance. As you can imagine, that’s not a great time for your lawyer to find out you needed an interpreter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since the start of this week, the Government has implemented a system of fixed fees for legal aid cases. This makes it even less likely that a legal aid lawyer is going to be able to afford to take the time to listen as their client slowly explains what has happened; to organise a sign language interpreter and spend time checking if their client understands what has been said; to get the materials in Braille so their client can read them; to make sure the Police followed the proper protocols when the client was questioned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s getting harder for poor people to access justice. The outcome is that more disabled people and people with mental health issues than ever will be facing criminal convictions, or a lack of access to justice in civil and family court settings. It’s a bad outcome for the individuals involved, and a bad outcome for society.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Nicola Owen is the co-ordinator of Auckland Disablity Law, </i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">a free community legal service in the Auckland region of New Zealand </span></span><a href="http://www.aucklanddisabilitylaw.org.nz/">http://www.aucklanddisabilitylaw.org.nz/</a><br />Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-85971841097986897972012-03-02T22:45:00.001+00:002012-03-02T22:52:02.524+00:00Racially aggravated conviction for joggers loving thug<div style="font-family: inherit;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">By
Cristiana Theodoli, <a href="http://twitter.com/_cric_/" target="_blank">@_cric_</a>
</span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">An
argument over a defective pair of jogging bottoms lead to a Glasgow
man being convicted for a racially aggravated breach of the peace
today.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Robert
Martin, 39, was convicted of behaving in an abusive manner likely to
cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The
incident, which happened on November 15 last year in Shandwick
Square's Shopping Centre in the Easterhouse area of Glasgow, took
place when Mr Martin tried to return a pair of training bottoms after
finding a whole in them.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">During
the trial, most of which took place at an earlier date, Sheriff
Charles McFarlane QC heard that Martin's partner had tried to return
the trousers the night before but the shop's manager refused to
refund her. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The
shop manager, a Mr Saltar, had told the court that the woman had been
“cheeky”.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Yet
in cross-examination he was asked by Defence Counsel Tracy Paterson
if it was not the case that Martin went to the shop to confront him
after he had been “cheeky” to his partner.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">As
he was accused of a relatively minor offence Martin was charged on
complaint, known as a summary case, meaning that his trial was heard
in front of the sheriff alone, without a jury.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">After
hearing today's closing speeches from both Fiscal Depute Emma Harris
and the defence agent the sheriff retired to considered his verdict.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Upon
his return to the bench he said: “I considered carefully all the
evidence in this case, both the complainer Mr Saltar and the shopping
centre's janitor spoke to the accused shouting at the complainer and
there was also evidence that he swore at the complainer.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">“With
regard to the alleged racist remarks the complainer in evidence
stated that the accused referred to him as a 'black bastard'. He said
'you are quick enough to take my money you black bastard'. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">“The
janitor also said that he heard the accused swear at the complainer.
He said the accused comment was not very appropriate because he
perceived it to relate to his race. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">“I
come to the view that the accused is guilty of the breach of the
peace by shouting and swearing. In these circumstances I have come to
the view that the breach of the peace was aggravated by the racist
remark and I find the accused guilty of the charge.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The
sheriff then called for a criminal justice social work report and
adjourned sentencing to a later date. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Carried out by social workers the report will assess Martin's lifestyle to support the sheriff's
decision on whether a custodial sentence is appropriate or not.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">A regular requirement when considering the best course of
action to ensure a convicted criminal will not fall into a pattern of
re-offending, it will include an assessment aimed at identifying
risk-traits such as drug or alcohol abuse or a possible history of
mental illness.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Martin's
bail was continued, he will be due back at Glasgow Sheriff Court in
March 30 to be sentenced.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Cristiana
Theodoli</span><span style="font-size: small;">'s
blog can be found here: [<a href="http://cristianatheodoli.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a>]<br />Copyright
remains with the author.</span></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-70520363518529230702012-03-02T21:28:00.000+00:002012-03-02T21:47:12.948+00:00Alleged dealer's uncle takes stand in court<div style="font-family: inherit;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">By
Cristiana Theodoli, <a href="http://twitter.com/_cric_/" target="_blank">@_cric_</a>
</span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The uncle of a man
accused of dealing cocaine told a court he uses his nephew's plumbing
skills on one in three jobs.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Alan Carberry, 44,
was giving evidence at the trial of Ryan Daly, who is accused of
being concerned in the supply of the class A drug from his parents'
Bishopbriggs home.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mr Carberry, of
Highfield Drive, in the Kelvindale area of Glasgow, told the court he
has been in the building contractors' industry for almost three
decades.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He said: “I have
been in the industry for 28 years, I have been operating as a
joiner/builder for 20 years, my company, Rise Constructions, has six
employees.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He added that he
also contracts out particular jobs when the workload requires him to
do so.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Appearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court today he told the jury that Ryan,
28, worked for him on one in of three plumbing jobs.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He said:
“Depending on what work he has on too and if he's available. He
does the gas work, we keep that separate as shouldn't be doing gas
work, we are not a gas safe registered company but he is, so we keep
the work separate.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">On being asked by
Fiscal Depute Iain Bradley if he just gives the job to Ryan because
of he's family Mr Carberry answered: “No, he has to compete with
the other guys.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Daly, the son of
Carberry's sister Marie Daly, was charged with being concerned in the
supply of cocaine after a raid by Strathclyde Police officers at
their home.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The court had
earlier heard the cops found items that, in their experience, they
associate with dealing such as a small set of scales and lists of
names and digits known as 'tick lists' as well as £100 worth of the
white powdered drug.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They also found
£29.000 in cash stored in a cash box in Ryan's room though both his
mother and father, 54-year-old taxi driver John Daly, stated in court
that just over half the money, £15.000, was cash they had saved and
earmarked for building an extension at their home.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">At the end of Mr
Carberry's evidence Daly's agent, Murray Macara, stated that was the
end of the defence case. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The trial was then
adjourned and it will continue </span><span style="font-size: small;">before Sheriff Kenneth
Mitchell on Monday with the lawyers' closing speeches and the
sheriff's charge.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Read
previous reports:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://openjusticeuk.blogspot.com/2012/02/court-hears-alleged-cocaine-dealer-had.html">Court
hears alleged cocaine dealer had £29k stored at home</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://openjusticeuk.blogspot.com/2012/02/allegations-parents-nightmare.html">Allegations
a 'parent's nightmare'</a></span></div>
<h1 class="western" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://openjusticeuk.blogspot.com/2012/03/plumber-tells-court-he-does-not-have.html">Plumber
tells court he does not have drug debt with the accused</a></span></h1>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Cristiana
Theodoli</span><span style="font-size: small;">'s
blog can be found here: [<a href="http://cristianatheodoli.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a>]<br />Copyright
remains with the author.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-43275821073527487712012-03-02T17:50:00.003+00:002012-03-02T17:50:32.565+00:00"The clients don't want you in there" - Glasgow's most secretive courts<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">by Tristan Stewart-Robertson, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/SRTristan/" target="_blank">@SRTristan</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">THE clerk of the tribunals recognised
me. He should - I may be the only reporter who visits.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">My reappearance at the First-Tier
Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum) on March 2, 2012 was my first since
September 2007 when it was then called the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Since then, it appears the appeals
are anonymised on application, and the overall system seems even more
secretive.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The clerk went and asked a handful
of clients for upcoming hearings if they would mind a reporter in the
room, and all objected. As far as he was concerned, that was the end
of it.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He said of the first appellant: "The
client says she would feel uncomfortable with a reporter in court. If
the case went against them, they could cite that as a factor."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Except it is an open court system,
as I pointed out, and it is Open Justice Week, of which he was aware.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The clerk called his boss and I was
then ushered to Hearing Room 1. The defence lawyer objected, everyone
went out and I assured the solicitor that I would not be identifying
his client. Judge Anne McGavin said she had no objection to my presence.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So we proceeded. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The tribunal system for asylum and
immigration cases, sitting a floor above three floors for employment
tribunals in Glasgow, is one of the hardest systems on which to report.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Solicitors, who you might think enjoy
publicity, can rarely comment on cases lest the Home Office exacts revenge
on their clients. It is a genuine concern. The decisions themselves
are sent to the client in writing weeks after public hearings - the
tribunals are public, but the decisions are private. That makes reporting
on complete cases very difficult.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">For those reporters covering such
cases, a few times a decade, there are persistent professional and ethical
questions worth asking. It took a call to the Tribunals Service press
office to obtain the guidance on the "reporting restrictions"
now tagged to each asylum case (the names were published in full previously,
despite the rules supposedly made in 2005). Applications for anonymity
are made at the point of appeal "where public knowledge of the
person or the case might impact on that person's protected rights".
However, exclusion of the public should be "rare". The clerk's
position that my presence could be a "factor" refers to potential
publication in the UK causing risk of harm in their home country, which
they could then use as grounds to appeal a rejected appeal [see reference
to a "sur place claim" in the reporting restrictions document].</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I note there is no entry at all in
the most recent Scots Law for Journalists referring to the immigration
and asylum section of the tribunals.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There are cases before tribunals
where appellants have claimed they were victims of rape and torture
in their country of origin. Had such crimes taken place in the UK, they
would be afforded automatic anonymity. But that is not true in the First-Tier
tribunals - it must be applied for.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">All that said however, the possibility
that an individual was a rape or torture victim might justify automatic
anonymity applied by the press, regardless of any lack in legal position.
There is a clash between the need to report openly, fairly and accurately,
and the need for possible extra protections for those within the system.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">None of that journalistic debate
removes the basic need for the tribunal system to have journalistic
presence, nor justifies any exclusion of the press.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">During a case I sat in on back in
2007, the Home Office representative said to an appellant: "Well
why would anyone think you're a lesbian? You've got two kids."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In another Home Office representative
did not accept that a Scottish man had cancer based on his evidence
to the tribunal.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Those sorts of questions, the frequently
dramatic human stories being examined and the eventual decisions on
whether they are true or not, are all worthy of scrutiny. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The tribunal system was one of the
main reasons I went freelance in 2008. A part of the justice system
unseen by the public or at the very least journalists, is a dangerous
concept and unnerves me as a devoted defender of the principle, "Justice
must be done and justice must be SEEN to be done". </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But there is no market for tribunal
stories about asylum seekers, refugees or immigration, particularly
when those involved are anonymised and the decisions unknown. That is
the overriding problem with new journalism, or citizen journalism or
even the holier-than-thou data journalism - covering obscure courts
and tribunals dealing with people largely considered illegitimate by
the wider press does not pay.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Even if it's only once a year during
an Open Justice Week, challenging the immigration and asylum section
of the tribunals service would seem an essential public duty. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tristan Stewart-Robertson's site can be accessed here [</span><a href="http://www.w5pressagency.com/" target="_blank">W5 Press Agency</a>] </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Copyright remains with the Author.</span></span></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-38368533891264110742012-03-02T17:47:00.002+00:002012-03-02T17:52:52.160+00:00Asylum seeker appeals to stay in Glasgow with fiance'<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">EXCLUSIVE
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">by Tristan Stewart-Robertson, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/SRTristan/" target="_blank">@SRTristan</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A TWICE-refused asylum seeker has made a fresh appeal
to stay in Glasgow because she wants to marry a Scottish man more than
20 years her senior.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The woman, who can only be identified as AA, had
originally applied for asylum in the UK from Somalia, claiming she had
fled the war-torn country in fear, having been raped and forced into
prostitution.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But after the Home Office rejected the bid, it emerged
AA was from Kenya and had previously lived in the United States. She
made a second application and was again refused but in that time had
entered into a relationship with 61-year-old XX from the city.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">At an appeal hearing at Glasgow's First-Tier Tribunal
(Immigration and Asylum), the Home Office representative, Mr Keith Jones,
argued that AA's bid to stay should be rejected.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">AA's position was that under Article 8 of the European
Convention on Human Rights, the family life she had made in the UK meant
she should not return to Kenya.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mr Jones said the relationship with XX was "built
on sand" and that she had a stronger family life in Kenya with
her son, parents and a brother.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He told Judge Anne McGavin that XX's evidence was
not credible, particularly the fact that he did not even know if AA's
parents knew about their relationship.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">During evidence, XX said he was very much in love
with AA but they had not yet got married because AA needed a valid birth
certificate and she had no papers whatsoever.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He said: "At the time I met her, she said she
was Somali and had to run away from everything in the war, that she
had a very hard life, that she was raped and was press ganged into prostitution,
but ran away from it.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"She said she was 36 and at first I had trouble
with that - I thought the age gap was kind of big.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"But if it works for Catherine Zeta-Jones,
then why not? I happened to fall in love with the girl and I love her
to bits."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He added: "It's alright sitting here being
comfortable making judgements on people that they shouldn't tell lies.
What would I have done? I don't know."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">XX's son also gave evidence to the hearing and said
he knew AA was from Kenya, "probably from when we were first introduced".</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mr Jones, for the Secretary of State, said that
the son's evidence undermined that of his father.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He said: "There are two ways to look at it.
One is they are both in on it and both know she is Kenyan and happy
to proceed with the deception. Or he has been deceived and is happy
to proceed. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"She [AA] has an appalling immigration history
in the UK and the US. Expecting AA to return to Kenya is a proportionate
interference with Article 8 and I would ask you to dismiss the appeal."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Defence solicitor Mr Andy Knox said the case was
a finely balanced Article 8 debate, but that his client had established
family life in the UK. He said it would be unreasonable for AA to be
removed and then apply for re-entry.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Judge McGavin reserved her decision and said AA
would be notified in writing within about two weeks.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tristan Stewart-Robertson's site can be accessed here [</span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.w5pressagency.com/" target="_blank">W5 Press Agency</a>] </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Copyright remains with the Author.</span></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-56680788081194458112012-03-02T17:45:00.001+00:002012-03-02T17:51:00.051+00:00Guidance for anonymity in Asylum / Immigration cases<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Sourced by Tristan Stewart-Robertson, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/SRTristan/" target="_blank">@SRTristan</a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">MR MICHAEL CLEMENTS</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">PRESIDENT OF THE FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM CHAMBER</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Presidential Guidance Note No 2 of 2011:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Anonymity Directions in the FtT(IAC)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">(Issued 14/02/2011, revised 7 July 2011)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1.
Applications for anonymity are made in the notice of appeal. There is a
web link to the appropriate form for the appellant to complete. The
appeal file will be marked accordingly. Either party may apply for
anonymity at a later stage. Once an application is made the appeal will
be anonymised and will remain so until further directions of the
Tribunal. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. All asylum appeals will be anonymised at case creation.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3.
Once anonymity is granted the Tribunal will remove the appellant's name
from all published documents that are in the public domain. The names
will remain in full on the judicial cause list.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4.
The power to direct anonymity is derived from article 8 ECHR and such
directions should be made where public knowledge of the person or the
case might impact on that person’s protected rights. An interim
anonymity direction is more likely to be appropriate during initial
stages of an appeal to enable the parties to prepare their cases without
interference or hindrance. At the CMR or at the substantive hearing
the Immigration Judge should review the application for anonymity and
direct whether the appellant should be granted anonymity. There may well
be appeals where no application is made by either party but the court
will self direct that anonymity should be granted. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Anonymity directions will often, if not always, be made where the appeal involves:-</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">i) a child or vulnerable person. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ii)
evidence that the appeal concerns personal information about the lives
of those under 18 and their welfare may be injured if such details are
revealed and their names are known</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iii) there is highly personal evidence in the appeal that should remain confidential</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iv)
there is a claim that the appellant would be at risk of harm and that
by publishing their names and details it may cause them harm or put
others at real risk of harm</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">v) publication of the determination may be used subsequently to support a </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">sur place</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> claim.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">First tier</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It
is unusual, (but not unknown) for the determinations of the first tier
to be published. If anonymity is granted the determination should give
brief reasons why anonymity is granted with fuller reasons if either
party objects.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
power to direct anonymity stems from rule 45(4)(i) of the Asylum and
Immigration Tribunal (Procedure) Rules 2005. For the purpose of this
rule the First-tier Tribunal is a “court”# and therefore s.11 of the
Contempt of Court Act 1981# will apply to any direction so given.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In most appeals a direction in the determination, which should be clearly identified, could be made:-</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0pt 30.5pt 0pt 27pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"The
appellant be granted anonymity throughout these proceedings, unless and
until a tribunal or court directs otherwise, and be referred to as
[initials of appellant]. No report of these proceedings shall directly
or indirectly identify him/her or any member of their family. This
direction applies both to the appellant and to the respondent. Failure
to comply with this direction could lead to a contempt of court."</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There
may be other instances where the entire determination should be
anonymised and the immigration judge should ensure that the
determination in itself, even if publicised, would not identify the
appellant. Examples of this could be where the appellant has been
working for the security services. In other appeals only some part of
the determination may need to be anonymised. This may arise where it is
in the public interest for the appellant to be named, for example in a
serious criminal deportation appeal, but their address should not be
disclosed to prevent harm to him or his family.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Holding hearings in private and anonymity directions</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A
direction for anonymity under rule 45(4)(i) would not automatically
exclude members of the public to a hearing and judges should consider
if it is necessary to make a further direction under rule 54 at the
substantive hearing. Exclusion of the public from a hearing should be
comparatively rare as long as the identity of the appellant and/or their
family is protected.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mr Michael Clements</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">President, First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Copyright remains with the Author.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tristan Stewart-Robertson's site can be accessed here [</span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.w5pressagency.com/" target="_blank">W5 Press Agency</a>]</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-51870982849825504642012-03-02T14:39:00.001+00:002012-03-02T15:33:02.642+00:00HMA vs Muirhead and McKenzie Witness identifies Defendent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/01/10/1011015_8cd3f4e1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/01/10/1011015_8cd3f4e1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u>Friday 4 March</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shop worker Colleen Sinclair told the High Court in Glasgow today that the man who purchased three digital watches, a set of "travel bottles" and a large red suitcase from her on 14 April 2011 was one of the accused in the case, Neil McKenzie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ms Sinclair who at that time was working in "B&M bargains" in Stevenson Ayrshire, told the court that she knew Mr McKenzie as she had attended school with his son and had recognised him when shown CCTV coverage by police officers. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Earlier the jury had heard from the store manager, Alison McLaughlin, that a receipt showed to her by police identified Ms Sinclair as the checkout operator who had sold the goods.The court was then shown the CCTV coverage in question which showed a man, accompanied by an elderly lady, enter B&M and buy a red suitcase and other items. When asked who had paid for the purchases Ms Sinclair said she believed that it was Mr McKenzie's mother.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Later the jury saw CCTV footage from a B&Q hardware store in the same retail park which showed a similarly dressed man purchase a bag of nails. Donald Findlay QC for Mr McKenzie, questioned the times on the CCTV footage, which in his words would appear to show that if it was the same man in both sets of footage he would "have to be in two places at once." Later on however Mr Findlay stated that he was merely pointing out that relying on "electronic timekeeping" could lead to problems.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mr McKenzie and Mr Muirhead have pled not guilty to charges relating to the sending of "explosive devices" to Celtic Manager Neil Lennon and others in March and April 2011. The trial continues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-379671766757802422012-03-02T14:16:00.000+00:002012-03-02T15:33:18.543+00:00HMA vs Muirhead and McKenzie "parcel bomb trial"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/resources/images/1630261/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/resources/images/1630261/" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trish Godman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The first witness when the court resumed after the lunch break was Evelyn Campbell, who in March 2011 was employed as personal assistant to then Member of the Scottish Parliament Trish Godman. Ms Cambell was asked by the Advocate Depute, Tim Niven Smith, about an event at the MSP's Bridge of Weir constituency office on Monday 28th March 2011.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ms Campbell told the court that around 1pm that day she had went to pick up the day's mail and, as well as two or three letters, she found a package addressed to Ms Godwin. The witness said that the package seemed "odd" as it was very heavy and smelled of "glue." Ms Godwin took the parcel into the office and after discussing with a colleague began to open it at which point a "wire fell out with a device attached to it". She then called the police who arrived and evacuated the building. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mr Findlay then rose to cross-examine the witness and asked if she had noticed the parcel, like the previous one found at Kirkintilloch sorting office had no postmark. Ms Campbell was asked if she had seen the package arrive and the witness told the court she had not, however she had heard the "thud" when it had dropped through the letter box.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mr Findley concluded his cross-examination by asking Ms Campbell if she recalled Trish Goodman wearing a Celtic football top under her jacket on her last day as an MSP. The witness said she did recall the event telling the court it was done for charity. The witness was then excused. The trial continues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-37797678007593675932012-03-01T22:21:00.001+00:002012-03-01T22:21:10.665+00:00Plumber tells court he does not have drug debt with the accused<div style="font-family: inherit;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>By
Cristiana Theodoli, <a href="http://twitter.com/_cric_/" target="_blank">@_cric_</a></span> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A plumber whose name was found on a
paper described by cops as a drugs 'tick list' told a court he does
not take cocaine.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Jamie Pullen, of Stanley Drive,
Bishopbriggs, was giving evidence at the trial of fellow plumber Ryan
Daly who is facing a charge of being concerned in the supply of the
class A drug.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Pullen, whose name was identified as
one of those on a number of lists found by cops when they searched
Daly's room, was asked by Fiscal Depute Iain Bradley if he owned Daly
drug money.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Pullen said: “I'm the hardest working
person probably in this court. I'm married and I've got two kids and
I'm definitely not involved in anything like that.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The court had earlier heard from Police
Constable Graham Scott of Strathclyde Police, who had searched Daly's
parents' home in Wallace Gate, Bishopbriggs.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Constable Scott appeared at Glasgow
Sheriff Court and said that the lists, found in the 28-year-old
accused's wallet, looked like 'tick lists', lists of name and figures
which cops usually associate with drug dealers.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Fiscal Depute Bradley had asked the
constable: “So it's like a more organised form of drug dealing,
like an informal payment agreement?”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Constable Scott had agreed that, in his
experience, this was the case.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Yet Pullen told FD Bradley that the
numbers next to his name related to cash he owed Daly for jobs he had
helped him on.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He said Daly had helped him fit a
number of boilers and connect the gas so he owned him cash for his
labour.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He added: “I have breakfast and lunch
in my van and I put things down on a bit of paper and copy it in my
diary when I have a change.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The jury also heard from 38-year-old
joiner Thomas Reid, of Airdrie, who specialises in upgrading medical
premises and dental surgeries.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Reid said he started calling on Daly as
a plumber a couple of years ago.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He said: “He has helped me on maybe
30 or 40 [surgeries]. I can't say. I was struggling to find a
reliable plumber, the one I was using at the time wasn't reliable I
met Ryan, got his number and asked him to do a job and since then he
has been doing my work.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He added he had seen the sheets with
names and numbers beforehand and said: “I have sat in the van with
Ryan before and I broke down the jobs.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The trial, before Sheriff Kenneth
Mitchell, continues.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <span>Read previous reports: </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span><span><a href="http://openjusticeuk.blogspot.com/2012/02/court-hears-alleged-cocaine-dealer-had.html" rel="bookmark">Court hears alleged cocaine dealer had £29k stored at home</a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://openjusticeuk.blogspot.com/2012/02/allegations-parents-nightmare.html" rel="bookmark">Allegations a 'parent's nightmare'</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Cristiana
Theodoli</span><span>'s
blog can be found here: [<a href="http://cristianatheodoli.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a>]<br />Copyright
remains with the author.</span></span></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-35783087520877139642012-03-01T20:50:00.000+00:002012-03-02T16:30:05.659+00:00A first brush with justice<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
By Alan Selby, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/Selbars" target="_blank">@Selbars</a></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6478461347924275919" name="_GoBack"></a>
The last two days were a new experience. When I moved to London six
months ago I had promised myself that I would visit one of the
numerous courts within walking distance of where I live, and when I
heard about Open Justice Week I saw the perfect opportunity to
finally do so.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Despite sailing
through my court reporting exam, passing my 100 word per minute
shorthand exam and – ostensibly – being qualified for what I was
about to do, I had never actually set foot in court. I had never
applied any of this to a real situation.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I don’t really
know where the court is back home, in Middlesbrough, but it’s hard
to miss court buildings in London – particularly the Royal Courts
of Justice, the first that I visited. This colossus of Gothic
architecture rises imposingly out of The Strand, with its huge arches
and spires towering above the end of Fleet Street.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
My most direct
experience of the dark, intimidating main entrance had always been on
television. Having seen people emerge into a swarm of cameras and
journalists had done little to educate me about how things actually
work there, however. It took me a while to overcome my apprehension
and persuade myself that, yes, this was also the door that I was
supposed to use and that, yes, I was allowed to do so.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After taking the
plunge I emerged into the vast great hall and onto an ornate marble
floor that stretched into the distance. The entire building was as
ostentatious as it appeared from the outside, but once I had passed
through the security gates I realised, as families and school
children began to pass by, that everything was probably going to be
ok. It was hard to tell where to go next from the cause lists on
display, given my difficulty in making sense of the limited
information available, but the lady at the information desk suggested
I should either go to courts one to nine to see a criminal case, or
court 73 for the Leveson Inquiry. Still feeling a little overwhelmed
I settled for the more straightforward option, and headed for court
73.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After bumbling
around the rabbit warren of corridors, pretending I knew where I was
going and trying to veil my ignorance by looking as confident as
possible, I eventually found the place. It got easier as I got closer
to the gaggle of journalists hovering outside, and it also became
clear that we weren’t all going to fit inside the courtroom. I
opted to head for the annex, the glorified tent in the car park into
which proceedings were being beamed via a multitude of enormous
plasma screens. On my way down I had a chance encounter with Lord
Leveson himself, who didn’t seem too impressed by the slightly
sweaty, bearded man ambling down the stairs towards him.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Simon Hughes MP was
giving evidence, discussing an intrusion into his private life by
journalists working for The Sun. He told the inquiry that in 2006,
when he was favourite to become the next leader of the Liberal
Democrats, The Sun had managed to get hold of his mobile phone
records, and with them evidence of calls to a gay chat line. The
sequence of events led, he said, to him becoming the 4-1 outsider in
the race. I would later spot the story in The Evening Standard, and
it became one of the main talking points from the day’s
proceedings.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
By the time I had
settled into my surroundings I realised that, as the Leveson Inquiry
is broadcast live to the public anyway, I should probably try and
find some proceedings that were a little less accessible. I made my
way back into the main building and up the stone steps to the first
floor, where criminal hearings were taking place, passing by
portraits of stern looking old men in wigs and the occasional suit of
armour. It was reasonably intimidating to me, so I can only imagine
how it must feel for those people whose visit is motivated by
something more pressing than idle curiosity – appealing a criminal
conviction, say.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Unfortunately more
or less the only proceedings still running by this stage concerned an
application that was subject to reporting restrictions. A quick
search for section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 on my phone (I
decided to leave my hefty copy of McNae’s, the court reporting
bible, at home) led me to the conclusion that, whilst the case might
be very interesting, I wouldn’t be able to say anything about it
later.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
I decided I might as
well make the short trip down Fleet Street to the Old Bailey. I
wasn’t planning on going until the next day, but it was only a
short walk. Upon my arrival I quickly discovered that I couldn’t
take my mobile phone inside, even if it was switched off, so decided
to stick to my plan and return the next day. It wasn’t until later
that I was told about a café who will look after your phone for £1,
but given my lack of familiarity, and the probable willingness of
many Londoners to ‘look after’ my phone for £1, I think it was
probably for the best that I didn’t start asking around in the
nearby greasy spoons.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
I returned bright
and early the next day and, to my surprise, joined the back of a long
queue for the public galleries. I waited for half an hour whilst the
two security staff thoroughly searched people one by one, and family
members rushed up the stairs to the front of the queue. Three of the
schoolchildren in front had to be turned back after their phones –
and one calculator – were discovered.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Eventually it was
decided that the public galleries were full, and that everybody who
wasn’t a family member would now have to go and see if there was
still space in courts one to four. I did so, got straight in and went
up the stairs to the galleries, where I asked the guards which courts
were sitting. I chose court four, a drugs trial, and quietly opened
the door to take my seat. This wasn’t easy, because more or less
the entire courtroom was constructed of ancient oak that creaked in
response to the slightest of movement.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
I had already missed
the start of proceedings, so was unable to get the defendant’s
address and had little information to go on. Because of this I won’t
be naming the defendant here, lest I risk defaming somebody. As I
settled down the only noises coming from below were the
stenographer’s quiet tapping and the booming, accusatory tones of
the prosecution counsel, who was questioning the defendant. This
alternated with the friendlier voice of the defence counsel, and the
considered, drawling tone of the judge’s interjections as
proceedings continued.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
To my surprise, the
proceedings were not particularly difficult to follow. The defendant
was accused of knowingly importing £215,000 worth of cocaine on a
flight from Barbados. He had been identified by a drug detection dog
at Gatwick airport, where he was found to have more than 3kg of
cocaine hidden in three suitcases. His defence was that he did not do
so knowingly, because he was under the impression that he was
transporting either cash or gold on behalf of a close friend who had
asked him to do so. He said he had been promised between £2,000 and
£3,000 in return, which he planned to use to pay for a personal
training course.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
The proceedings
ambled along at a relatively sedate pace, punctuated by the
schoolchildren who sidled in and out, and pausing only when the jury
was asked to rise briefly so that counsel could speak with the judge.
After a few hours I quietly retreated out of the courtroom and made
my way back outside into the throbbing noise on the streets of
London. I would have liked to stay longer, but I had exhausted the
time I had available.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
My two days in court
had been an extremely interesting experience, once I had overcome my
apprehensions. The Old Bailey had seemed more accessible than the
Royal Courts of Justice, perhaps because the inside of the building
itself is much less extravagant than the one I had visited the day
before. It could equally have been that I had a day’s worth of
experience behind me, or it could have been that I actually got to
see a proper drugs trial.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Regardless, this had
been a valuable insight into the world beyond what is normally
portrayed by the ranks of cameras positioned at the entrance. As
I made my way past them, wondering who they were waiting to pounce
upon, I was quietly satisfied that I had now undertaken my first
foray into court reporting. Admittedly there still seem to be
16-year-olds with more experience of court than me, but we all have
to start somewhere.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Copyright remains with the author. </div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-31539872737753687582012-02-29T22:00:00.000+00:002012-02-29T22:04:15.658+00:00Allegations a 'parent's nightmare'<div style="font-family: inherit;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">By
Cristiana Theodoli, <a href="http://twitter.com/_cric_/" target="_blank">@_cric_</a>
</span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The father of a man charged with
dealing cocaine told a court the allegation is a 'parent's
nightmare'.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">John Daly, 54, was speaking at the
trial of his son Ryan, 28, a self-employed plumber accused of dealing
the class A drug from his parents' address.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The court heard that £100 worth of the
drug was found in Ryan's room in the Wallace Gate property,
Bishopbriggs, during a raid on October 7, 2010.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Taxi driver John's reaction came after
Fiscal Depute Ian Bradley asked what he thought when he was told of
the charge.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The accused's mother Marie Daly, who
later gave evidence as part of the defence case, also told FD Bradley
that she was shocked when she was told cocaine was found in Ryan's
room.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She said: “I was shocked. Disbelief.
It was disbelief. But he got his problem sorted now.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ryan's mother was also asked about the
£29.000 found in a cash box in the plumber's room.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She said £15.000 of those were hers,
raised after she sold stock and shop fittings from a baby clothes
shop she used to run in the Shawlands area of Glasgow after closing
the store.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She said: “The rest is Ryan's money
and it's up to him what he wants to do with it. I couldn't have a say
in that. It's his hard earned cash so it's up to him what he does
with it.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Marie Daly also said that the set of
scales recovered from the flat and used in evidence were hers.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Police Constable Graham Scott, who took
part in the search, had earlier told the jury that scales and lists
of names and numbers , known as 'tick lists', were usually indicative
of drug dealing when found along with drugs.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Yet when Mrs Daly was shown one of the
lists found in during the search by Defence Counsel Murray Macara she
said those were Ryan's workings.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She said: “I have seen his workings
before, if he is pricing a job or working out prices... It's a bit
all over the place.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">At the end of Mrs Daly's evidence the
trial was adjourned for the day. It is due to continue tomorrow at
Glasgow Sheriff Court before Sheriff Kenneth Mitchell.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Read previous report: </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://openjusticeuk.blogspot.com/2012/02/court-hears-alleged-cocaine-dealer-had.html" rel="bookmark">Court hears alleged cocaine dealer had £29k stored at home</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Cristiana
Theodoli</span><span style="font-size: small;">'s
blog can be found here: [<a href="http://cristianatheodoli.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a>]<br />Copyright
remains with the author.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-48210034969588873262012-02-29T21:14:00.003+00:002012-02-29T21:14:58.522+00:00Open Justice website alive with great legal blogging: #oj_uk<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">By Gavin Ward, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/gavward" target="_blank">@GavWard</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">published on <a href="http://www.wardblawg.com/scotslawblog/scots-law/open-justice-website-alive-with-great-legal-blogging-oj_uk/" target="_blank">ScotsLawBlog</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Open Justice Week launched at the start of this week (27 February) and already the <a href="http://openjusticeuk.blogspot.com/">Open Justice website</a> is alive with some great pieces of legal blogging from the Scottish Courts.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As explained in the <a href="http://openjusticeuk.blogspot.com/2012/01/launch-statement.html">Open Justice launch statement</a>,</span></div>
<blockquote style="font-family: inherit;">
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">A fundamental principle of law is: “Not only must justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Lord Hewart said this in 1924, 88 years later the question is: Does this still hold true?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">The Open Justice Project asks that question and aims to provide a snapshot of the state of British law in 2012.</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Half-way through the week, the goal of
the project remains to get writers, legal professionals and members of
the public to collaborate using social media to share their experiences
of a week in the life of the legal system.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">If looking for further inspiration about
why it’s a great idea to get involved in the project, particularly if
you are a law student or lawyer, please do see my <a href="http://www.pupillageblog.com/?p=1101">top 5 reasons for young lawyers to get blogging post on Pupillage Blog</a>.
I’ve been judging moots at the start of this week – it’s good to see
another year of capable Scots law students going through their first
year of law school. Many of those students are more than capable of
providing great blog posts on legal matters. It is hoped that more
continue to spare some of their free time to get involved with social
media, particularly by engaging through <a href="http://wardblawg.com/2011/02/15/wardblawgs-top-10-tips-for-law-firms-and-lawyers-on-twitter/">legal tweeting</a>, <a href="http://wardblawg.com/2011/07/11/top-10-linkedin-tips-for-young-lawyers/">LinkedIn </a>and <a href="http://wardblawg.com/2011/11/14/10-useful-tips-for-better-blogging/" style="text-align: justify;">legal blogging</a>.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">To get involved you can email the Open Justice team at <a href="mailto:openjusticeuk@gmail.com">openjusticeuk@gmail.com</a> join them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/362870963738982/">Facebook</a>, <a href="">follow them on twitter</a> through the hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/search/%23oj_uk">#oj_uk</a> and share their posts to your social networks.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Best wishes to the Open Justice team for a strong finish to the week.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: black;">Gavin Ward</span>'s
blog can be found here: [<a href="http://wardblawg.com/" target="_blank">WardBlawg</a>]<br />Copyright
remains with the author.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-29272391672772976432012-02-29T18:31:00.001+00:002012-02-29T18:36:20.587+00:00Panic buying lead to court for vacationing addict<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">By Gordon Darroch, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/synthjock/" target="_blank">@synthjock</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A man has been fined £125 for possessing £10 of heroin that
he bought “in panic” when his methadone prescription ran out while he was on
holiday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Police found the drugs in the home of 43-year-old Derek
Hanvey in Lincoln Avenue, Glasgow, shortly after he bought the “tenner bag”,
containing 0.2 grams of diamorphine, from a street dealer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that Hanvey, a father of five,
had been on a methadone prescription for 20 years and had long-standing drug
addiction problems.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">His defence agent said he had been on holiday in Egypt just
before the offence on September 11 last year and “had been aware that he was
not going to get his methadone the following day, and effectively panicked
because of the effect that would have.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Police raided his house so swiftly that Hanvey had no chance
to consume the drugs, the court was told.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Sheriff Linda Ruxton said: “That tenner bag is going to cost
you £125. It would have been £150, but I’ve given you some benefit for the fact
that you have not gone to trial.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Hanvey pled guilty to one charge of possession of heroin. He
was acquitted of further charges of possessing diazepam and tampering with an
electricity meter after the Crown accepted not guilty pleas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Gordon Darroch</span>'s
blog can be found here: [<a href="http://gordondarroch.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a>]<br />Copyright
remains with the author.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-86030866890709289662012-02-29T18:28:00.001+00:002012-02-29T18:34:40.406+00:00Brick hurling gang member has sentenced deferred<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">By Gordon Darroch, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/synthjock/" target="_blank">@synthjock</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A man has been jailed for nearly five months for breach of
the peace after CCTV cameras caught rival gangs throwing bricks and other
missiles at each other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Violence broke out in Elderpark Street, Govan, Glasgow, when
rival gangs began taunting each other at about 3am on September 4 last year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">CCTV footage showed David McCallum, of Drumoyne Square,
Glasgow, hurling what appeared to be a brick at the height of the street
disturbance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“He was seen wearing dark clothing and being confronted by a
gang, and he was seen with a large brick-type item and seen running at two
other members,” Dorothy Roy, prosecuting, said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“He was seen to throw the item down to the ground and then
gesticulate towards the males of the other group.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Sentence was deferred on McCallum, 18, who admitted a charge
of breach of the peace.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">His co-accused, 21-year-old Robert Duncan, of Napier Drive,
Govan, Glasgow, was given a five-month jail sentence in the light of his criminal
record.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mrs Roy said Duncan could be seen in the footage
“gesticulating towards other gang members, inciting them to fight and gesturing
and running towards the other members of the gang”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Duncan’s defence agent said “drink had been taken” before
the incident and noted there had been “a great deal of posturing” on both
sides.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He added that the incident had not escalated into widespread
violence and police only investigated it six weeks later after viewing the CCTV
footage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Sheriff Linda Ruxton told Duncan, who pled guilty, that she
would imprison him for 145 days for the breach of the peace charge and added a
further 40 days for two outstanding criminal matters, totalling six months.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A third accused, 17-year-old Craig MacGregor, of Hutton
Drive, Govan, Glasgow, was acquitted after the Crown accepted his not guilty
plea.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Duncan had a not guilty plea accepted in relation to a
separate charge of possessing an offensive weapon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Gordon Darroch</span>'s
blog can be found here: [<a href="http://gordondarroch.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a>]<br />Copyright
remains with the author.</span></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-17624429468344398692012-02-29T18:25:00.000+00:002012-02-29T18:25:36.563+00:00Man cleared of reckless fire extinguisher act<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>By Gordon Darroch, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/synthjock/" target="_blank">@synthjock</a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A 22-year-old man has been cleared of a charge of throwing a fire
extinguisher in a nightclub after the Crown dropped the case against him.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br style="font-family: inherit;" /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">John McMahon, of Lochmaben Road, Gartcosh, had denied the
charge of culpably and recklessly throwing the extinguisher towards a group of
people at the Campus nightclub on Sauchiehall Street on March 20 last year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After Sheriff Linda Ruxton queried why it had taken nearly a
year to bring the case, procurator-fiscal Dorothy Roy said the Crown would not
pursue the complaint further.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mrs Roy initially asked to have
the trial adjourned after two witnesses who were due to give evidence against
McMahon failed to appear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">McMahon’s lawyer told Sheriff
Ruxton that his client was anxious to put the case behind him because he had a
job interview lined up which could be jeopardised if he faced outstanding court
proceedings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After a short adjournment while
the procurator-fiscal made enquiries by phone, it emerged that the witnesses
had not arrived at court because their citations had not been delivered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Sheriff Ruxton asked Mrs Roy if
she wanted to continue with the case, noting that McMahon had first appeared in
court back in April last year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The court was told that some of
the delay had occurred because responsibility for the case had been transferred
from one Strathclyde Police division to another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“There are certain issues which
have been raised by the defence. Is this a case where you are insisting on
prosecution?” the sheriff said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“It doesn’t on the face of it
look to be a particularly serious matter. I’m concerned about what has been
said about disclosure and interviews, and an adjournment would normally take
this into mid-June.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mrs Roy said the Crown would not
be pursuing the case further and McMahon, after 10 months of legal proceedings,
left the court a free man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; font-family: inherit; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: black;">Gordon Darroch</span><span>'s
blog can be found here: [<a href="http://gordondarroch.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a>]<br />Copyright
remains with the author.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-35590658763557135222012-02-29T12:48:00.001+00:002012-02-29T12:56:55.440+00:00Reporting the courts: You got the occasional plea - and faced the occasional threat<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">By Iain M Hepburn, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/imhepburn" target="_blank">@imhepburn</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Back
in the dim and distant past, and I was a young and slimmer district
reporter, Stonehaven Court was my home of a Tuesday. Sometimes on a
Thursday too, but always on a Tuesday.</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There
was a set pattern - one you could set your clocks by. In fact I
suspect the sitting Sheriff in my time there, the venerable but
occasionally cheeky Sandy Jessop, often did.</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">10am
starts every day. Mondays would be custody hearings for weekend
arrests. Tuesday was criminal cases before the Sheriff. Tuesday
afternoon would be overspill from the morning, or Sheriff trials if it
was a light day. Wednesday was civil court. Thursday was a day of
Sheriff trials again. Friday was district court.</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Invariably
it’d be me and Crawford, the old hand from the Mearns Leader, sat on
the press bench. Occasionally we might be joined by Gary Cooper from
the Courier if something from the Angus border was sitting.
Occasionally, if Ken or Susan from Northscot agency joined us, it meant
something tasty was scheduled for the day.</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There’s
a pattern, a routine to covering court for any length of time,
particularly in a smaller local community. You get on nodding, then
chatting, terms with all the solicitors, and the local bobby assigned to
the courtroom. </span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">If
you’re good, or lucky, you build a relationship with the PF’s office to
be aware of what’s coming up - although Stonehaven’s PF at the time, a
grumbling James Robertson Justice lookalike called Barbour, notoriously
hated the paper, and seemed to go of his way to be difficult.</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And
you start to identify patterns in the court lists. Names from out of
town tend to be motoring offences - truckers done for tachograph
violations, or drivers caught out by the A90’s notorious run of speed
cameras. Local addresses were likely breach of the peace or similar offences . If there was someone in fatigues in the public benches, it
meant a squaddie from Balmoral or 45 Commando was up.</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">You
get to recognise names from repeat offenders - always a tricky one,
because it builds up in your mind what they’ve done before.
Occasionally you see folk you know: an old school classmate of mine was
up for breaking the peace after a post-pub rammy in a car park. The
walk of shame out of court took him past my seat in press row.
His face was a picture.</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Trials
were always a sod. A good trial could take up a full day, possibly
more, and in a one-man office that could be costly. Was the day-long
trial of drunken girl flashing her knickers and dryhumping passers-by a
good enough page lead to sacrifice covering a major planning hearing in
Aboyne? At what point do you nip out to phone the desk and summon a
snapper without missing something good? Reporting became a balancing
act.</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">You
got the occasional plea - ‘please don’t write this in the paper, it’ll
cost me my job’ - and faced the occasional threat - ‘write this in the
paper and I’ll break your arms’. Had both of those. Even had the
defendant come into my office in the town square and menace me during a
week-long assault trial - bit of a giveaway over his guilt, that one.</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">But the whole of human life was also there, write large on the faces of those in court.</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Grumbling,
wizened old hacks tend to moan about court reporting being a lost art,
but in many ways it’s true. News cutbacks even on a regional level
means many good tales are lost or overlooked by papers and broadcasters
in favour. People want big stories and big name trials. </span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">But
court reporting - and all that comes with it - is the bread and butter
of local journalism, a fact that should never be lost.</span></div>
<div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Iain M Hepburn's blog can be found here: [<a href="http://www.thedrum.co.uk/content/false-doorway" target="_blank">The Drum</a>]<br />Copyright
remains with the author.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-82576120405405187112012-02-28T23:25:00.001+00:002012-02-28T23:25:03.718+00:00Re: Northern Ireland Tweeting<div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ruth O'Reilly, editor of The Detail, forwarded me more information about tweeting from court in NI.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She said she contacted the Lord Chief Justice’s office for clarification on the
position and was told: </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">"The approach in Northern
Ireland is that journalists should make an application to the judge to request
permission to use electronic devices to Twitter or send out texts from
Court. It will be for the individual judge to consider the individual
request taking account of the public interest in the case and the risk of
interference with the administration of justice that would be attached to using
live, instantaneous communications from Court.” </span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/Ruth_thedetail" target="_blank">@Ruth_TheDetail </a></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Editor of online investigative news and current affairs website for and about Northern Ireland - <a href="http://www.thedetail.tv/" target="_blank">The Detail </a></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478461347924275919.post-82045114981334651522012-02-28T20:48:00.000+00:002012-02-28T20:48:10.730+00:00‘Once the tape was off, the CID officer apologised to me'.<div style="font-family: inherit;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;"></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">One
accused man recounts his experience of the justice system for Open
Justice week</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">By Calum James McKay, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/calumjamesmckay/" target="_blank">@calumjamesmckay</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">John
is 28 years old and lives in Glasgow. He has a normal job, takes in
the football and the company of friends at the weekend and leads a
life fairly typical of a male in his twenties dwelling in a British
metropolitan environment, the kind of life that would be deemed by
most to be unremarkable. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Early
in the hours of a Saturday morning at the end of January, though,
things changed irreversibly for John. After a night out with his then
partner, John was visited in his home by two officers of Strathclyde
Police. He was detained, charged with a domestic breach of the peace
and common assault, and then passed through various entities of the
Scottish justice system – police cars, interview rooms, holding
cells, Reliance vans and a court rooms - before being granted bail
and returned to his liberty, albeit conditionally, at Glasgow Sheriff
Court the following Monday afternoon. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I’m
calling him John because the court proceedings which begun a few
weeks ago are still ongoing – he is to appear at a further hearing
at the same court later this year, when he will learn whether he is
to stand trial on the charges, which he robustly denies – and
therefore his real name cannot be associated with a frank recounting
of his experience such as this.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Despite
the case, John is relaxed enough when we meet; the lingering
emotional marks of his debut (he hopes his only) encounter of the
corridors of justice, with their overwhelming private vocabulary and
de trop procedure, surface only occasionally and fleetingly. The
marks are definitely there though, detectable throughout our
discussion in little moments of frustration and anger, worry and
trepidation.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">From
our quiet corner table, he begins: “The thing that really galls me
is what the charges were. I asked how I had breached the peace. They
said, basically, because I had shouted at her. So, to my mind,
I had been arrested and charged with shouting at someone in my own
house – the same person who had shouted back at me.” It’s worth
mentioning here that John was given the opportunity by police to make
a counter-allegation, an opportunity he declined.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">The
relationship was by John’s own admission “tempestuous”, though
nothing more than that and the argument which ignited that night had
taken him by surprise. Yes, words were exchanged; there were even
moments during the altercation, he tells me, where they held each
other’s arms. But assault? Criminal charges? The concepts are as
alien to him as the world of legalese and cell graffiti which he now
finds himself inescapably embroiled in. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">And
this is what makes his case so interesting: John’s charges are far
from the most serious that a judge in the UK will consider – though
this is not to understate domestic violence’s pernicious effects or
its particular social significance. He is, if there exists such a
thing, an ordinary person - John tells me he had no idea how to
instruct a solicitor prior to this, or that if he had simply said
nothing during his interview he wouldn’t be in the position he is
in currently. An ordinary person who has been placed in a system
which is intended to be universal and designed to receive and deal
with him fairly and in the public interest. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">The
first link in the chain for almost every person entering into our
legal system, whether via an arrest or attendance at a station, is
our police. In this regard, John was no different. The officers
who were in his home and at the station were professional and
pleasant enough, reassuring even, but more systemic problems with the
way in which accused individuals are handled by the police became
apparent. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">“</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
had been completely calm at all points,” he explains. “It was
obvious they weren’t dealing with someone who had taken part in a
violent assault. The officer said we have to detain you and I didn’t
realise I would then be handcuffed.”</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Pretty
standard stuff you might think, but when you consider John’s next
point, it raises a number of questions. “They were quite happy for
me and one other guy to be sitting in that room - in all honesty I
finished a bottle of beer while I was sitting talking to the guy. The
guy was sitting to my left on the couch, so if I wanted to I could
have smashed it over his head. Now, I’m never going to do that, but
I could have.”</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">“</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
can understand a better safe than sorry approach on their behalf,
because they don’t know me,” he says, “but there’s no
continuity with it and it doesn’t make any sense.” So why do
officers place people in handcuffs after allowing them such freedom
of movement? “It’s to dehumanise you, it’s to assert authority
over you in whatever ways they can,” he replies. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">It’s
a process that continues upon arrival at the station. “Whenever you
get in there they take your jacket off you,” John goes on. “You’re
only allowed one set of clothes, yet you’re given as many sheets as
you want, which would make a much better noose than my jacket. Even
if you have slip-on shoes with no laces they are taken off you. When
I was taken in to be interviewed, I wasn’t allowed to put a pair of
shoes on. So you’re sitting there with just socks on: It’s like,
for fuck’s sake, this is my life!” </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">John
smiles wryly at this point, but his displeasure at the method of
handling suspects is clear to see. A further source of ire - on top
of what he describes as a prevalence of “procedure for procedure’s
sake” - could be found in the underlying reasons for his detention.
As he elaborates: “ I was told by my lawyer there was a decision
made by the Lord Advocate whenever they changed this piece of
legislation in 2010, a political decision that the SNP made to
desperately try and increase the number of convictions for domestic
violence. That’s the reason I couldn’t be bailed without seeing a
sheriff.”</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">John
was told by an officer that if he had head-butted someone on
Sauchiehall Street that he’d have been released. At this stage,
too, his charge was still only a breach of the peace; the common
assault was later added by the Procurator Fiscal after receipt of the
police report, another decision which he says “doesn’t make any
sense”. He continues: “Incarceration for three days is insane for
that [breach of the peace], when you consider there’s people
punching random people outside pubs and committing much more
offensive crimes to society. It’s frustrating.”</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">His
sense of confusion was, it seemed, shared by his carers at the police
station, all most all of whom described his being there as
“bullshit”. John recalls the moment he was informed that he would
be held over the weekend. “Once the tape was off,” he says “the
CID officer apologised to me and said: ‘Look, I’m sorry. This
will go to the Fiscal and it will probably get kicked out. But, I’m
sorry, I have to do this.’ I just put my head in my hands and asked
if there was anything I could do to get out of there.”</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">The
answer was no. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">John
eventually emerged from the stairs into a court room having not
washed for 72 hours and was granted bail by a sheriff on Monday
afternoon before his release. In that time, he had passed through the
sleepless monotony of the “Victorian” custody cells of two
Glasgow police stations - an environment in which quickly he learned
“not to ask difficult questions” - and Reliance officers had
derided and confiscated the books his parents, who attended his
custody hearing in tears, had brought for him to read. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">He
had eaten nothing but gluey microwavable meals delivered at unusual
hours of the day and had negotiated the intimidating and “strange”
group cell at the Sheriff Court. The experience of seeing so many
young men accruing charge upon charge and conviction upon conviction
is one that you can see John is still trying to make sense of. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">He
had stood a mute spectator in a court of law as his immediate liberty
was discussed in a matter of seconds by other men whom he had never
previously met. He had done all this yet it only represented the
beginning of things. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">John
is to appear at the same court for a pre-trial hearing, or
intermediate diet, in the summer, where he will find out if his case
will proceed to trial and where he will continue to plead not guilty.
Between now and then he has much to contemplate. The “worst three
days” of his life in the preliminary mechanisms of justice have
left him troubled. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">As
well as the immediate implications of the case and a criminal record,
he worries about the impact on his future career, the effects of all
this on his family and about unwittingly breaching his bail. Mostly,
though, the experience has brought home an uncomfortable reality
about the process of justice.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">“</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
don’t believe that the criminal justice system is set up for the
‘average’ person to have a fair access to it,” he tells me.
From his being charged to his engaging of a lawyer and standing in
front of a judge in the theatre of the court room, John has witnessed
what he calls “the archaic rigmarole” of the law, and more
awaits. When he thinks about it all now, the persisting question in
his mind is: “Who benefits?”</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span> <span><span><br />Copyright
remains with the author.</span></span></span> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>Open Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491406877817962402noreply@blogger.com0