Comments on: Observing History - Heathrow Robbery Trial Starts Without Jury http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/robbery-trial-starts-without-jury.html Cambridge, United Kingdom. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:04:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Richard Taylor http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/robbery-trial-starts-without-jury.html#comment-28508 Richard Taylor Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:53:35 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=2495#comment-28508 As I understand it he was free, on bail, before his trial. On day one he was told that he wasn't to leave the court complex during the day while the trial was in progress, but would still have gone home at night and at the weekends - he wasn't in custody. To suggest he has "escaped" as the BBC headline does is nonsense, he was free to walk out. The judge let the defendants know that their trial would carry on in their absence if they didn't turn up. I believe turning up at court may have replaced turning up regularly at a police station as part of his "bail" conditions; this isn't so much worse than him not turning up for an appointment at the police station. As I understand it he was free, on bail, before his trial.

On day one he was told that he wasn’t to leave the court complex during the day while the trial was in progress, but would still have gone home at night and at the weekends - he wasn’t in custody.

To suggest he has “escaped” as the BBC headline does is nonsense, he was free to walk out.

The judge let the defendants know that their trial would carry on in their absence if they didn’t turn up.

I believe turning up at court may have replaced turning up regularly at a police station as part of his “bail” conditions; this isn’t so much worse than him not turning up for an appointment at the police station.

]]> By: rn http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/robbery-trial-starts-without-jury.html#comment-28507 rn Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:40:07 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=2495#comment-28507 The BBC is reporting http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8522316.stm that this trial now has no suspect as well as no jury. Perhaps we could save a lot of taxpayers money and scrap the judge and all the lawyers too? The BBC is reporting http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8522316.stm that this trial now has no suspect as well as no jury. Perhaps we could save a lot of taxpayers money and scrap the judge and all the lawyers too?

]]> By: Richard Taylor http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/robbery-trial-starts-without-jury.html#comment-28443 Richard Taylor Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:14:07 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=2495#comment-28443 There's a piece on Spy Blog commenting on this article: http://p10.hostingprod.com/@spyblog.org.uk/blog/2010/01/18/richard-taylor-observing-history---heathrow-robbery-trial-starts-without-jury.html There’s a piece on Spy Blog commenting on this article:

http://p10.hostingprod.com/@spyblog.org.uk/blog/2010/01/18/richard-taylor-observing-history—heathrow-robbery-trial-starts-without-jury.html

]]> By: Frugal Dougal http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/robbery-trial-starts-without-jury.html#comment-26368 Frugal Dougal Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:48:37 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=2495#comment-26368 Good point about the judge and lawyers forming an educated elite in the absence of a jury. Did the police know a gun was going to be taken to the robbery - if so, could they not have responded in kind to prevent it? Good point about the judge and lawyers forming an educated elite in the absence of a jury.

Did the police know a gun was going to be taken to the robbery - if so, could they not have responded in kind to prevent it?

]]> By: Richard http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/robbery-trial-starts-without-jury.html#comment-26335 Richard Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:25:08 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=2495#comment-26335 Thanks for that Martin. I've not applied to watch Blair in person. I've been following the inquiry via its website at http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/ That's another example of what can be done to make things accessible online (though the ballot form has to be returned by post). Judging by the quality of questioning I'm not expecting Blair to be "examined"; what happens when he gives evidence will be up to him - he may be given the opportunity to explain again what he did and why. Thanks for that Martin. I’ve not applied to watch Blair in person. I’ve been following the inquiry via its website at http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/

That’s another example of what can be done to make things accessible online (though the ballot form has to be returned by post). Judging by the quality of questioning I’m not expecting Blair to be “examined”; what happens when he gives evidence will be up to him - he may be given the opportunity to explain again what he did and why.

]]> By: Martin http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/robbery-trial-starts-without-jury.html#comment-26288 Martin Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:22:22 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=2495#comment-26288 Very interesting; well done for going. Have you applied to attend the Blair evidence to the Iraq inquiry? The deadline for ballot is very soon. Very interesting; well done for going. Have you applied to attend the Blair evidence to the Iraq inquiry? The deadline for ballot is very soon.

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