quote of the day

Posted on | June 24, 2008 | No Comments

Just reading about the recent ruling that the use of anonymous witnesses is incompatible with a fair trial, and specifically to the right of the accused to see and challenge his accusers. Can someone who does criminal law tell me why it took the House of Lords to set that straight? Well, DUR! (as they say)  

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But the scariest part was this quote from Bob Quick, head of Scotland Yard’s Counter Terrorism Command, who said the ruling was “catastrophic”: “There is too much principle and not enough pragmatism in the criminal justice system,” he said.  

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Yikes – when up on a murder charge I jolly well hope to be tried according to principle not pragmatism, but at least its not someone in a position of leadership or authority in the police speaking with such disregard for the importance of a robustly fair trial system …

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NB: I have no plans to be up on a murder charge in the near future.

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Read the quote in its original context here.

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