Witness intimidation: Judges won't be cowed into denying a fair trial
It is impossible to square anonymity with defendants' rights. So we need another solution
David Pannick
The Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, yesterday told the Commons that the Government intends to publish a Bill next week that will allow witnesses who fear intimidation to give evidence anonymously in criminal trials.
But legislation will not achieve the desired objective of ensuring the conviction of the guilty and will only delay the need to consider alternative means of addressing the problem of intimidation.
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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