Issue 32  7th April 2018

First Murder Case Affected by AGFS Strike

A murder case at the Old Bailey has become the first to be affected by the barristers’ strike over cuts to the criminal justice system. The mother-of-one had been repeatedly stabbed in the neck and chest at the home they shared in Kirkstall Avenue, Haringey, last Friday.

But no defence barrister was present to represent him in court where Judge Anuja Dhir QC set a timetable for his case and considered bail. His solicitor, Seona White, of BSB Solicitors, said she had contacted more than 20 Chambers to find a barrister, but none were prepared to take on the case.

50 Killings in London During 2018

A man has died after being stabbed in north-east London, bringing the number of killings in the capital this year to more than 50.

Fatal stabbings in England and Wales are at their highest level since 2010-11, with the escalating violence especially acute in London, where 13 people were killed in two weeks last month.

'Hither Green 'burglar' stabbing: Man, 78, arrested'

The arrest has sparked a heated debate over the laws on self defence.

The police have announced that he will face no further action.

‘Documents obtained by Centre reveal extent of disclosure crisis’

A cache of documents obtained by an FOI request has identified potential serious problems in the training of police officers on disclosure.

Police focus group notes suggest some officers trained to put evidence on the sensitive unused material schedule that shouldn't be there so that the defence can't see it.

DPP to Leave CPS

Alison Saunders, the current DPP, is to step down at the end of her five-year term (October 2018).