News
Underfunded Justice
Angela Rafferty QC, who represents criminal barristers in England and Wales, criticised ministers for trying to promote the justice system as “a national asset” at the time of Brexit when in reality “the fabric of the court estate [is] crumbling”.
Her criticism is the latest complaint about courts. On Friday the Commons justice select committee launched an inquiry into disclosure problems and the role of the Crown Prosecution Service.
'Police foot the bill after collapse of forensics firm'
Police have been forced into a multimillion-pound bailout of a private forensics company whose collapse jeopardised thousands of cases that include rape and murder, The Times has learnt.
Key Forensic Services (KFS), which folded on Friday in the latest in a string of privatisation scandals, was carrying out work in 2,000 cases for 30 forces including the Metropolitan Police.
This follows recent problems with other private forensic labs.
Renewed Calls For Section 41 Reform
Harriet Harman and Dame Vera Baird QC are calling again for section 41 (rules regarding the admissibility of sexual history) to be reformed.
This follows a review carried out in December 2017.
'Britain's First Bitcoin Heist'
Armed robbers broke into the family home of a city financier turned Bitcoin trader and forced him to transfer the digital currency at gunpoint, in what is believed to be the first heist of its kind in the UK.
Four robbers in balaclavas forced their way into the home of Danny Aston, 30, who runs a digital currency trading firm, before reportedly tying up a woman and forcing Mr Aston to transfer an unknown quantity of the cryptocurrency.
Other
'Why so many rape trials are collapsing'
An interesting article on the recent disclosure issues, including an analysis of the corroboration rule in Scottish prosecutions and the potential effect of that on the quality of investigations.
R v Darren Osborne Sentencing Remarks
Sentencing Remarks of Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb in R v Darren Osborne, the prosecution arising from the 19 June 2017 Finsbury Park attack.
Obscurity
Railway Obstruction
Carrying out an unlawful act which obstructs an engine or carriage using a railway is contrary to section 36 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861.