Month: July 2013

31.07.13

The sunday Times apologises to ex-partner of Belle de Jour author

The sunday Times has made a formal apology in the High Court to Owen Morris, former partner of Belle De Jour author Brooke Magnanti, and agreed to pay substantial damages and legal costs over allegations made in the newspaper in 2010. Belle de Jour was initially a popular anonymous blog that documented Magnanti’s encounters as a London prostitute, as well as…

25.07.13

stay of confiscation must be exceptional

In Beazley and Beazley [2013] EWCA 567 the Court of Appeal heard an appeal by the prosecution against a terminating ruling of a Recorder to stay confiscation proceedings. The defendants had been convicted of offences contrary to section 92 Trade Marks Act 1994. such offences are in fact ‘criminal lifestyle’ offences by virtue of their…

24.07.13

High Court hears internet contempt trials

The Attorney-General has appeared in person before the High Court to ask that two men be committed to jail for “acts likely to interfere with the administration of justice”.  In both instances the acts arise  from the use of the internet whilst jurors in criminal trial.  In an indication of how seriously the courts are treating the issue of internet use…

23.07.13

Alison saunders appointed as new Director of Public Prosecutions

The Attorney-General has announced that London’s Chief Crown Prosecutor Alison saunders will take over from Keir starmer QC as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on 1 November 2013.  Ms saunders, a barrister, is the first DPP to be recruited from within the Crown Prosecution service (CPs).  she has worked at the CPs since its inception in 1986.

FOI request suggests Bribery Act underused by sFO

A Freedom of Information request has identified that the serious Fraud Office (sFO) is currently investigating just two cases relating to the Bribery Act 2010.  Three other matters are said to be ‘in development’.  The sFO is yet to bring a prosecution under the Act. The Bribery Act, which came into force on 1 July 2011, has…

22.07.13

JK Rowling's solicitors apologise over leak

Russells solicitors have ‘apologised unreservedly’ for accidently identifying that their client JK Rowling had written a crime novel The Cuckoo’s Calling under the pseudonym ‘Robert Galbraith’.  The disclosure appeared in The sunday Times.  It is understood that the Harry Potter author had hoped to keep her identity secret for longer.  A partner at the London firm admitted revealing…

Court of Appeal dismisses appeal against consent order

In Watson v sadiq & Anor [2013] EWCA Civ 822 the appellant appealed against a consent order made during the trial of a property dispute on the basis that (1) it was vitiated by duress and/or the absence of true consent and (2) the judge had improperly intervened during the trial and pressured him to settle the…

six journalists in court over alleged payments to public officials

six journalists, two public officials and one of their former partners appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 18 July 2013 to face allegations that they made or received corrupt payments. The prosecution is understood to be the first arising from Operation Elveden which involves a journalist from a non-News International publication. The Daily star sunday’s deputy…

17.07.13

Law society urges caution over government proposals to jail bankers for reckless misconduct

The Law society has issued a statement in response to the government’s plans to introduce a new criminal offence of ‘reckless misconduct’ in the banking industry.  Law society Chief Executive Desmond Hudson said, ˜Introducing recklessness as the basis for an offence means that prosecutors will have to decide, possibly years after a business decision was…

sir John Thomas to be appointed as Lord Chief Justice

Downing street has announced that sir John Thomas will succeed Lord Judge as the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales with effect from 1 October 3013.  A Lord Justice of Appeal from 2003 to 2011, sir John became President of the Queen’s Bench Division in 2011.  As Lord Chief Justice, sir John will be the…