First trial without jury approved

[RFLH]

The Court of Appeal has ruled that a criminal trial can take place in front of a judge without a jury for the first time in England and Wales.
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, made legal history by agreeing to allow the trial to be heard by a judge alone.

The case concerns four men accused of an armed robbery at Heathrow Airport in February 2004. It will be the fourth time the case has come to trial.

The judge said jury "tampering" was a "very significant" danger in the case.

Lord Judge told the court the cost of the measures needed to protect jurors from potential influence, such as the services of police officers, was too high and that such measures may not properly insulate them.

For example, they "did not sufficiently address the potential problem of interference with jurors through their families," Lord Judge said.

In addition, it would be "totally unfair" to impose such "additional burdens" on individual jurors, he continued.

The trial of the defendants, who cannot be identified, "will take place without a jury in due course", he added.

[frankgallagherwasere]

Would anyone trust any old judge?

Although I actually support this action my question and point is could anyone trust just any old judge? Its like a referee in football, too open to abuse !!

However unlike football judges are not chosen from outside the country to take charge of important games, maybe if the English judicial started to contract judges from around Europe we might see some justice and not the current wave of curruption frabrication and framing being served.

This does not break the association of all parties to the Home Office and potential political interference and therefore still contravenes article 13 of the Humand Rights Act on a fair and honest trial. But ofcourse the Home Office will still stick two fingers up and say they never ratified it.

[RFLH]

I've always thought that a panel of three judges would be best, but then what do I know!!

[Rights Fighter]

Obviously more than FG RFLH! He's still banging on about politics

I can just imagine judges from other countries who can't speak English or if they do, don't know English law as it would differs from their own!

Has somebody got a gag?

[friday]

unless ive been lied to, germany has professional jurors.