News
Liver Branding Surgeon Sentenced
A surgeon who admitted burning his initials on to the livers of two unconscious transplant patients has been sentenced to a 12-month community order, 120 hours’ unpaid work and a £10,000 fine.
Simon Bramhall used an argon beam machine to “write” on the organs of two anaesthetised victims in February and August 2013 while working at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
CPS Response to Disclosure Issues (£££)
Police investigating rape allegations are being ordered to declare that they have disclosed all evidence that could undermine the prosecution.
In response to growing fears that vital evidence which could clear innocent defendants may have been covered up, detectives have been told to provide details of all mobile phones seized and all material downloaded from them.
Retailers Attempt to Tackle Acid Attacks
Waitrose, B&Q, Morrisons, Wickes, Co-op, Screwfix and Tesco are among the major brands to sign the voluntary commitments on the responsible sale of corrosive substances.
The voluntary commitments will see the retailers: agree not to sell products to those under 18 that contain potentially harmful levels of acid or corrosive substances.
‘John Worboys victims demand CPS reassess 93 allegations against him’
In a letter to the Crown Prosecution Service, lawyers for several victims and alleged victims said: “Worboys was only prosecuted in respect of a small fraction of the allegations against him: 12 complainants out of some 105 in total who, we understand, made complaints to the police.
Cases
R (On the Application Of DPP) v Birmingham Magistrates' Court [2017] EWHC 3444 (Admin)
High Court overturns a District Judge’s refusal to adjourn a trial:
The Prosecutor eventually discovered what had happened and, later that morning, made an application to adjourn the trial. The Prosecutor furnished the judge with the following information: (1) A had the previous night lost five members of her family in a car accident in Yemen, and was consequently not in a fit state to attend court
Obscurity
Origin of Affray
c.1300, "fear, terror, state of alarm produced by a sudden disturbance," from Old French affrai, effrei, esfrei "disturbance, fright,"