Trial date set for Sheridan

14 July 2009 at 01:02 | In Criminal Law, Scots Law | Leave a Comment

Scottish politician Tommy Sheridan and his wife Gail yesterday (Monday) plead Not Guilty to charges of perjury.  A trial date has been set for 11 January 2010 at the High Court sitting in Glasgow.

The charges relate to Mr Sheridan’s case against the News of the World a couple of days ago.  He sued the News of the World, successfully, over allegations made about him visiting swingers clubs and him using drugs whilst in Manchester.  The judge sitting in the Court of Session involved the police because clearly one side or the other was knowingly committing perjury.   The News of the World came into possession of evidence which backed up their original claims following Mr Sheridan’s win.  The compensation is still outstanding as the News of the World is appealing the outcome of the initial case, but this cannot take place until after the perjury trial.

Genie sued for harassment

11 July 2009 at 19:40 | In Civil Law, Random | 2 Comments

A Saudi national newspaper has reported that a family is suing a genie over alleged harassment and theft.

The family alleged that the spirit threatened them, threw stones and stole mobile phones.  A court local to them is investigating their claim.  Islamic theology says that genies are spirits which can possess or harass people.

The head of the house spoke to the Saudi newspaper, but did not want to be named.  He said the following:

“We began to hear strange sounds… At first we did not take it seriously, but then stranger things started to happen and the children got particularly scared when the genie started throwing stones.”

Good luck to the court in establishing the truthfulness of these accusations, that’s all I can say!

Megrahi may not live to see his appeal

10 July 2009 at 22:44 | In Criminal Justice, Legal System, Scots Law | Leave a Comment

The man convicted of blowing up the PanAm B747 passenger jet which crashed in the small Scottish town of Lockerbie in November 1988 may not live to see the conclusion of his appeal.

Abdelbasset Al-Megrahi is suffering from terminal prostate cancer and may not live long enough to have his appeal heard and a judgement given.  The case has been delayed until at least September due to one of the Judges hearing his appeal, Lord Whealtey, having undergone heart surgery meaning his lordship is unable to undertake his judicial duties until at least the middle of September.

This is the latest twist to the Lockerbie appeal currently making its way through the Scottish legal system.  There is much doubt in many people’s minds (including many of the victims’ families) as to whether Megrahi was actually responsible for the bombing of the PanAm flight over Lockerbie in 1998.

This is a very real problem.  I am not commenting on Megrahi’s guilt or otherwise, but for the appeal of a dying man to be delayed is quite concerning.  While it is unfortunate that Lord Wheatley has had to undergo heart surgery, such an important appeal should not be delayed, especially when such a delay may cause the appeal never to take place due to the death of the appellant from a known terminal illness.

Criminal Procedue in Scotland – Test Case

10 July 2009 at 22:33 | In Criminal Justice, Criminal Law, Human Rights, Legal System, Scots Law | Leave a Comment

In Scotland an accused person has a right to see a solicitor prior to going before thr court, this does not extend to a right to see a solicitor whilst in police custody, before or during interview by the Police (unlike in England).  However, a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) could be about to change all of that.

The ECtHR held that the denial of legal assistance to a youth whilst in police custody in Turkey had been a violation of the youth’s right to a fair trial guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR).

A test case has began before the Lord Justice General, Lord Hamilton (who is Scotland’s most senior judge).  Lord Hamilton is sitting with Lord Kingrath and Lady Cosgrove.  Defence Solicitor’s in Scotland are using this ruling from the ECtHR to challenge evidence obtained in police interviews.

If the High Court of Justiciary holds in favour of the defence solicitors this could have an astronomical affect on thousands of cases currently going through Scotland’s criminal courts and could pave the way for thousands currently in prison to appeal their convictions where the prosecution relied on evidence obtained in police interview.

While I would like to see defence solicitors in police interviews in Scotland where those arrested wish there has to be a better way of getting that right rather than put thousands of convictions in jeopardy to gain it.

I will be watching this case with great interest.

Clearing 2009

10 July 2009 at 19:07 | In Eductaion, Politics | Leave a Comment

In a matter of weeks nervous 17 and 18 year old will receive their exam results which will determine the University they go to and what course they will study while they are there.  However, a row has erupted between Scotland and England over clearing.

Clearing is for teenagers who fail to meet the requirements of their Firm and Insurance choices which they made during the UCAS process.  Clearing is a list of courses still with space which students can, if they have the required grades, apply to study.

Due to the differences in the school year between Scotland and England, Scottish students have traditionally received their results prior to their English counterparts.  However, it is usually only a matter of two or three days.  This year, however, Scottish applicants will receive their results just over two weeks ahead of their English counterparts sparking fear that this will mean a poorer selection of courses for English students.

Due to the recession the numbers applying to university and college this year has dramatically increased meaning that there is already a shortage of places at universities and colleges for the numbers who are applying.

Is this really an issue or is it simply down to the old Scottish/English rivalry which sees each of these two nations of the UK fight over who is the most hard done by in the Union?

Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder genetically linked

3 July 2009 at 00:35 | In Health | 1 Comment

I read an interesting article in the paper at Lunchtime.  The Independent was carrying the headline Unlocked: the secrets of schizophrenia on the front page.

The article detailed the findings of a recent report which suggests that there is a “…remarkable similarity between the genetic faults behind both schizophrenia and manic depression…”  Up until now the two conditions have thought not to be related, but now these findings could lead to new treatments for both conditions.

The “new research shows for the first time that both have a common genetic basis that leads people to develop one or other of the two illnesses.”

Thomas Insel, director of the US National Institute for Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland, which part-funded the studies said “If some of the same genetic risks underlie schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, perhaps these disorders originate from some common vulnerability in brain development… Of course the big question then is how some people develop schizophrenia and others develop bipolar disorder.”

The full article in the Independent can be read here.

This is some really exciting research in the field of Psychiatry that could revolutionise the way doctors treat both Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia, both of which are psychiatric conditions that can ruin the life of those suffering from the conditions.

ID Cards will not be compulsory

1 July 2009 at 00:26 | In Civil Liberties, Human Rights, Politics | Leave a Comment

National ID cards are in the news again, but this time because the new Home Secretary, Alan Johnson MP, has said that they will not be compulsory and that holding an ID card should be a choice for every citizen.

On the face of it this seems like good news, however, the Home Secretary will have to clarify whether citizens will be automatically entered onto the Identity Register when applying for a new passport, because if they are this will effectively mean compulsion by the backdoor!

I will not have to remind regular readers of my blog that I am against this abhorrent and draconian scheme.  All it serves to do is destroy our fundamental freedoms and help us along the slippery path to an Orwellian society, which would be an absolute nightmare!

Is it right to mix religion and healthcare?

28 June 2009 at 14:15 | In Health, Religion | 2 Comments

The BBC are asking whether it is right to mix religion and healthcare.  It comes off the back of a story detailing how doctors are demanding that NHS staff be given a right to discuss spiritual issues with patients as well as being allowed to offer to pray for them.

For those who have faith and a religion the spiritual aspect to their life can almost be as important as taking the medication and treatment provided by doctors.  However, should doctors and nurses be involved in that spiritual side?  I’d suggest not.  The chaplaincy systems operated within the NHS are where the spiritual aspect of getting better are rightly concentrated.  Having priests, ministers, pastors, imams (or whatever they are called by the patient) available to come and pray for/with, meditate and talk with patients is a very good idea and can be of great comfort to the patient.  I know that when I was in hospital recently that the visits made by a few of the church elders and one of the pastors was very comforting and helpful.

Doctors, nurses and church leaders are all specialist in their own areas and as such should be left to do the job that they do.  I don’t know about other faiths, but certainly in Christianity one does not choose to become a church leader, but rather is called to be one.  They are specially chosen by God to do the job that they do and this makes them much better equipped to do the job.

I remember reading a story in a book where a junior doctor was telling about the time when he called a priest in for a dying patient who was all on his own.  The patient had indicated in their patient records that they were a catholic.  The patient died that night, but he did not die alone.  The priest sat with him until the end, praying for him and such like.  No doctor or nurse could act in this way – the just don’t have the time!

What I am trying to say is that faith has a place in medicine for those who believe in a God, but to mix them together is not the best idea in the world.  The doctor-patient relationship works because of the distance between doctor and patient, yes there may be a relationship and/or rapport built up over a long period of time, but it is quite different to the sort of relationship you start entering into with prayer.  Prayer is deeply spiritual and I think that the spiritual bond created between doctor and patient were a doctor to pray with a patient would be counter-productive.

Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions?

Boring Update

26 June 2009 at 23:45 | In Personal, Random | Leave a Comment

Okay,

It’s been a while since I have blogged, so I thought it would be time for a quick update.

I’m still having seizures and it is still annoying me.  I’m still under investigation and I’m due for another blood test on Tuesday morning – this time I have to fast before.  This has come off the back of a number of symptoms:

  1. Extreme thirst
  2. Being constantly tired
  3. Needing the toilet more than usual
  4. Some very low BMs (usually following a seizure).  Lowest reading so far as been 2.2

While I have not had any high BM readings it doesn’t mean that I am not suffering from episodes of abnormally high blood sugar, so, coupled with a history of diabetes in my family the doctors are going to investigate this as being a possibility.

It does make sense that low blood sugar is a trigger for the seizures I am having as when my BM has been taken following a seizure it has been quite low, but then again the two could be completely unrelated!

I am starting to prepare for the two re-sits I have which I am not looking forward to, there is a lot to revise for the two exams and I really just want them over so that I can finally progress into my third year!

Other than that life has been very boring, as you have probably gathered from my twitter updates.  I have some things that I hope to blog about, and hope to do so on Sunday!

Nightjack

16 June 2009 at 23:28 | In Civil Law, Civil Liberties, English Law | 1 Comment

I used to link to a blog called Nightjack.  It was written by a, then, anonymous Detective Constable and was about his working life as a DC.  I even once published one of his posts on my blog.  However, in a case setting legal precedent, The Times has been allowed to reveal who this officer is and it has transpired that the officer, DC Richard Horton, has been issued with a written warning by his force.

The paper reports that many of his posts could be traced back to specific prosecutions.  However, that in itself wouldn’t be an issue as much of the information about a case becomes public knowledge throughout the process and by the time the verdict has been delivered everything (or just about) is in the public domain.  So, really, as long as the information wouldn’t have been with held by the court, was breaching injunctions or was released (and tracable) at an inapropriate time I fail to see where the issue is (and the paper certainly does not make this clear).

The legal precedent set effectively means that every blogger writing under a pseudonym, like I do, is at risk of having their identity revealed at any time and has little protection under the law.  Some food for thought about exactly what we blog about.

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