Harpist guilty of handling stolen goods

Jemima Phillips, official harpist to Prince Charles, was found guilty of handling stolen goods at Gloucester Crown Court today, having already admitted fraud. Apparently the cause of her offending is drug-related.

She has been told that a prison sentence is likely, and was granted Bail until the sentencing hearing. Story on video from the BBC here.
Questions for AS students:
1. Who will have decided her guilt?
2. What grounds for appeal are open to her?
3. Would you have given her bail or not, and why?
4. What do you consider an appropriate sentence to be, and why?

Sources of Law resit help

Next Monday, 14th December, at 1.00 there is a revision class for ALL A2 students who are re-sitting Sources of Law. This will take place in W111.

There will be two more revision classes for Sources of Law in the first two weeks back after Christmas. This is important as the topic of Statutory Interpretation will be covered, which is essential knowledge for the January exam.

OCR Exam Dates - January 2010

AS Law
English Legal System
Thursday 14th January, 9.00 am
Sources of Law resit
Thursday 14th January, 9.00 am

A2 Law
Law of Contract Special Study paper - Thursday 28th January, 9.00 am

Solicitors struck off

The High Court has ruled that the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal was correct to strike off two partners in law firm Beresfords in relation to their handling of sick miner's claims under the Coal Health Compensation Scheme run by the government.

AS students - this is an example of the power of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to strike off solicitors from the roll if they find them guilty of serious misconduct. They can also impose a fine, suspend solicitors, or reprimand them.

The equivalent organisation for Barristers, the Senate of the Inns of Court, has similar powers.

Police "arresting people just to get their DNA"?

Sound unlikely? Well, it's one of the conclusions drawn by the independent Human Genetics
Commission as part of their report into the DNA Database entitled "Nothing to Hide, Nothing to Fear?".

The report suggests that, according to one former senior police officer, arrests are now made for every possible offence with one goal of this being to record as many people's DNA as possible.

The report is a very critical one and suggests that Parliament should decide as to the role of the database, and particularly on the issue of keeping innocent people's DNA.

The Times illustrates the potential absurdity of this by highlighting the case of Tesfaye Smith (below) who had a DNA sample taken after a friend's father accused him of stealing Pokemon cards when Tesfaye was 12 years old.

For AS level students, a comment about the alleged overuse of the power to arrest for all offences introduced when PACE was amended by SOCPA 2005 would be a nice way to show ther examiner you have your finger on the pulse!