HM Courts & Tribunals Service is developing a ‘limited pilot scheme’ to test court users for Covid-19, as outbreaks of the virus continue to disrupt trials.

"We have now entered lockdown for the third time. The courts and tribunals must continue to function. The position remains that attendance in person where necessary is permitted under the proposed new regulations. This would include jurors, witnesses, and other professionals, who count as key workers. HMCTS will continue to put in place precautionary measures in accordance with Public Health England and Public Health Wales guidelines to minimise risk. All those attending court must abide by guidance concerning social distancing, hand washing, wearing masks etc. Judges and magistrates will have a role in making sure this happens.

Following a three week trial at Portsmouth Crown Court involving over 30,000 pages of served evidence, Counsel James Caldwell secures the ‘not guilty’ verdict of a man accused of a £310,000 VAT fraud against HMRC.  Instructed by Wessex Solicitors Mr Caldwell painstakingly examined every detail and managed to challenge the prosecution case at every turn.   Wessex Solicitors also instructed Fiona Marsh BSc MSc Forensic Scientist through Biomark Forensics to analyse handwriting and conclude that the documents provided in evidence were in fact forged which was essential to the defence case and assisted in securing the ‘not guilty’ verdict.

The criminal justice system will ‘relapse’ without more investment, the Bar Council said today, as the Crown court backlog continues to swell and cases take longer to complete.

Thank you to Robert Bryan of Drystone Chambers.  Mr Bryan was instructed  by Wessex Solicitors in respect of Confiscation Proceedings before Portsmouth Crown Court.  The matter was listed for a contested hearing on the basis of issues as to valuation but mainly in relation to proportionality.  We argued, using a relatively recent amendment to POCA, and one that appears not to be often used in the Defence armoury, that when it comes to making the confiscation order the Judge has to consider proportionality.  Here that order would result in the defendant and family suffering extreme financial hardship.   Portsmouth Crown Court…

Suspects were released under investigation in cases involving domestic abuse, sexual offences and offences against children when conditional bail should have been imposed on them, police and Crown Prosecution Service inspectors have found.