No-jury trials in gun cases?
Apr 11 2003
Home Secretary David Blunkett says the Government will consider trials without juries and greater protection for witnesses to help police crack the wall of silence surrounding fatal shootings and gun crime.
He pledged during a visit to Nottingham's Central Police Station to introduce new legislation to crack down on the guns and gang culture, and urged community leaders to provide better role models for young people.
Mr Blunkett said 8,000 guns, including 563 handguns, had been handed to police forces across the country since the launch of a month-long amnesty on March 31.
But more action was needed to tackle crimes involving firearms and to encourage people to come forward and give evidence.
"We are in the process of seeing how witnesses give evidence by video or with protection and also allowing there to be judge only trials," said the Home Secretary.
"Where there is very strong evidence of intimidation of witnesses or intimidation of the jury, we will propose that a judge sits alone."
He accepted that the plans would be controversial but urged people to support the idea to help the victims of gun crime.
"There is a degree of naivety about the evil that we are having to tackle and I urge everyone to support us," said Mr Blunkett.
He also hoped a new mandatory five-year minimum sentence for possessing illegal firearms would provide a stark warning to those who carry weapons.
"We are giving a clear message and providing a clear deterrent with the five-year minimum sentence and we hope that this gets the right response," said Mr Blunkett.
© owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2003
Who names a team after candy, anyway?