Convicted killers could go free if the UK’s law lords have their way – and intimidated witnesses are denied the right to anonymity during court cases.
While Jack Straw and his men try desperately to rush through a bill protecting the use of anonymous witnesses by next week, lawyers for two of four men found guilty of killing Letisha Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis, two Birmingham teenagers shot dead outside a New Year’s party in 2003, have already said they will appeal.
An article in the Times said:
Experts have warned that the law lords’ ruling threatened other key trials already under way and said that up to 40 people convicted of serious crimes in London alone could walk free if witnesses refused to reveal their names in any retrial
People are scared enough. But if they’re not prepared to give evidence for fear of reprisals, violent criminals really will have a field day.
Let’s face it. They’ve already got one over us.
We shouldn’t need to give evidence anonymously in the first place.
Filed under: Media, Opinions | Tagged: anonymity, charlene ellis, Jack Straw, law lords, letisha shakespeare, witness protection | 4 Comments »
Disarming Britain 