Who I and why?
I'm a keen reader of blogs and read a wide range including Bystander's Magistrates' Blog, the Anonymous Prosecutor, several police blogs, Frank Chalk and Winston Smith. There are others, but those are the main ones. I just read Inspector Gadget's latest post, in particular this paragraph: Wayne’s solicitor is clearly speaking about a different person to the one that Mandy and I have been dealing with. The Wayne he speaks of is a loving father to his new baby, a man riven by guilt and remorse at his previous behaviour, a man deeply committed to change, a man who now wants to do volunteer work in his community. A man clean of drugs who has, yes, failed his last two drugs tests at probation, and missed the last twelve, but still, he is trying. This is a very changed man your worships. Changed even since the last time, and the time before that, when he was also changed from the time before that. T...

Ha ha. Brilliant.
ReplyDeletewhat about no penalty ie fine or prison imposed without a hearing
ReplyDeleteTwo things, first I think that's contained in the 1297 version rather than the one signed by King John in Runnymede that is usually cited. While it is technically still in force, it lacks any real bite today partly because it was only ever intended to grant protections to the Barons rather than to the common man and because it is actually pretty vague. Secondly, that clause requires no punishment to be imposed "... but by lawful judgment of his Peers, or by the Law of the Land." The Justices of the Peace Act 1361 also provides that punishment shall be administered only in accordance with the law. The far more recent and enforceable European Convention on Human Rights, as enacted by the Human Rights Act 1998 provides far stronger protections in Articles 4, 5, 6, 7 , 8, 9, 10 and 11 than any version of Magna Carta or the JPA 1361 grants.
DeleteAlso, this may be a crass point but if you rely on the HRA in court nobody will laugh at you. Although, in my experience you should bring a pile of textbooks that you can lend to the judge because they often seem unfamiliar with the whole thing.
But Forest Law is so important. I need to collect firewood for my woodburner and not have my ears chopped off for disturbing the King's deer!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda. Yes I am a fuckwit and would like to buy some of your made-up bollocks. Shall I send you all my personal and financial details now, or would you prefer to reel me in a bit with your so convincing gobshite? D
ReplyDelete