“Betrayal” as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is “prone to be denied a jury trial” if prosecuted over Epstein beneath Labour’s court docket reforms
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is prone to be denied a jury trial, says prime lawyer (Picture: -)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Mandelson may face trial and not using a jury if they’re prosecuted over their hyperlinks to Jeffrey Epstein, one in all Britain’s most outstanding human rights barristers has reportedly warned.
The Specific understands Geoffrey Robertson KC, a former joint head of Doughty Avenue Chambers who labored alongside Sir Keir Starmer, stated the federal government’s proposed court docket reforms would create “a presumption” in favour of judge-only trials for sophisticated instances — and that any proceedings in opposition to the 2 males would virtually definitely fall into that class.
Writing in a report printed for the Bar Council, Robertson described the plans as “a betrayal of the values for which Labour purports to face” — a very pointed assault given his standing as a number one determine among the many lefty attorneys with whom each Starmer and Justice Secretary David Lammy have been as soon as related.
Each Mountbatten-Windsor, the King’s brother, and Mandelson, the previous British ambassador to the US, have been arrested earlier this yr on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace in reference to their relationships with Epstein. The American financier admitted youngster intercourse offences in 2005 earlier than taking his personal life in jail in 2019 whereas awaiting trial on separate intercourse trafficking fees. Each males deny any wrongdoing.
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Jury trial reforms
Lammy has argued that reducing the variety of jury trials is critical to clear the continual backlog within the crown courts. Underneath the proposed laws, a decide would be capable of resolve in “advanced or prolonged instances” — excluding homicide and rape — whether or not a jury is required in any respect.
Robertson informed The Instances that any prosecution of Mountbatten-Windsor or Mandelson for misconduct in public workplace “would allege abuse of public workplace” and “could be strongly contested and undoubtedly lengthy and possibly advanced as properly” — exactly the factors that would set off a judge-only listening to.
He referred to as the federal government’s resolution to bar appeals in opposition to such rulings a “shame.”
Robertson additionally challenged the central justification for the reforms, arguing that “proof is now rising to indicate that the plans to limit jury trials could have no vital impact on decreasing trial delays.” Final week The Instances reported that the Felony Bar Affiliation discovered that merely lifting the cap on the variety of judicial sitting days had already decreased backlogs throughout key areas together with London.
Andrew Morton speaks on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor disaster
“That is weird, given the historic function of the jury in defending dissidents and sustaining democracy: attacking juries have to be considered a betrayal of the values for which Labour purports to face,” Robertson stated.
In his Bar Council evaluation, Robertson additionally argued that ministers had underestimated the constitutional significance of the jury system — particularly its capability for mercy, describing it as “a high quality built-in by means of the ability of a jury to acquit when the defendant deserves mercy.”
Lammy responds
The Justice Secretary defended the reforms, framing the selection as binary.
Lammy stated the choice to the federal government’s proposals was “the Tory established order — continued drift, collapsed trials, and victims strolling away from the system solely. This Labour authorities chooses a system that works for victims, offering courageous survivors with the twenty first century justice they deserve.”
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