Can we have fair trials and shield witnesses?
It's all very well Jack Straw promising to rush through legislation to give reluctant, frightened witnesses anonymity as a carrot for giving evidence against alleged serious criminals, but it is far from certain that he can keep his promise. He made his comments after Wednesday's House of Lords ruling allowing a convicted killer's appeal, because the evidence against him had been given by three witnesses whose identities were not revealed to him and who spoke from behind a screen, their voices digitally disguised.
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
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