Law and Rights
On 22nd July, the Home Secretary decided that there should be an inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 into the death, in 2006, of Alexander Litvinenko - (BBC News 22nd July). As a result, the inquest first established in 2006 has been suspended under the power in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 Schedule 1 para 3. The Home Secretary had resisted holding an Inquiry but Mr Litvinenko's widow brought a successful judicial review of the Home Secretary's decision - (read the judgment).
Mr Justice Owen was sitting in the capacity as HM Assistant Coroner for Inner London North and was conducting the inquest. He has now become the Inquiry Chairman. Interestingly, Owen J retired from the High Court on 19th July.
See - Litvinenko - 31st July - Suspension of Inquest and Opening of Public Inquiry - where Sir Robert Owen stated that the government has issued a "restriction notice" under section 19 of the Inquiries Act 2005 so that specified sensitive material will be heard in closed session.
Previous posts - 7th July 2013 - Inquest or Inquiry? Litvinenko and also 11th February 2014.
Of Interest to lawyers blog - 31st July 2014
The Inquries Act 2005 - (passed during the "wash up" prior to the 2005 General Election) - has been severly criticised as giving Ministers too much control over the inquiry process. On this, see Law Society Gazette 27th March 2014.
- Litvinenko Inquiry Report
The Inquiry into the death of Litvinenko has now reported - Litvinenko Inquiry. The report , by Sir Robert Owen (retired High Court Judge and the Inquiry Chairman), is detailed and extends to 329 pages. Alexander Valterovich Litvinenko died on 23rd...
- Child Abuse Independent Inquiry Panel
Child abuse inquiry On 7th July, the Home Secretary made a statement in Parliament on child abuse investigations. 'I can now tell the House that the government will establish an independent inquiry panel of experts in the law and child...
- Inquest Or Inquiry? Litvinenko
Update 3rd October - Litvinenko's widow to seek judicial review of decision not to hold an inquiry - RTE Ireland Update 12th July - an Inquiry has been ruled out even though the Coroner (Owen J) requested it - BBC News UK 12th July Update...
- Brief Notes On The Azelle Rodney Inquiry
Update 31st July 2014 - The former Police Officer, referred to as E7, has been charged with the murder of Azelle Rodney. See the Crown Prosecution Service announcement on this. In April 2005, Azelle Rodney (then aged 24) was shot by the Metropolitan...
- Coroners: A Voice For Grieving Relatives
One of the oldest offices known to the law is that of Coroner. Writing in The Times 1st May, Frances Gibb drew attention to how Coroners have become the voice of grieving relatives seeking to expose systemic failings which may have contributed to...
Law and Rights
Litvinenko - a public inquiry to be held under the Inquries Act 2005
Mr Justice Owen was sitting in the capacity as HM Assistant Coroner for Inner London North and was conducting the inquest. He has now become the Inquiry Chairman. Interestingly, Owen J retired from the High Court on 19th July.
See - Litvinenko - 31st July - Suspension of Inquest and Opening of Public Inquiry - where Sir Robert Owen stated that the government has issued a "restriction notice" under section 19 of the Inquiries Act 2005 so that specified sensitive material will be heard in closed session.
Previous posts - 7th July 2013 - Inquest or Inquiry? Litvinenko and also 11th February 2014.
Of Interest to lawyers blog - 31st July 2014
The Inquries Act 2005 - (passed during the "wash up" prior to the 2005 General Election) - has been severly criticised as giving Ministers too much control over the inquiry process. On this, see Law Society Gazette 27th March 2014.
- Litvinenko Inquiry Report
The Inquiry into the death of Litvinenko has now reported - Litvinenko Inquiry. The report , by Sir Robert Owen (retired High Court Judge and the Inquiry Chairman), is detailed and extends to 329 pages. Alexander Valterovich Litvinenko died on 23rd...
- Child Abuse Independent Inquiry Panel
Child abuse inquiry On 7th July, the Home Secretary made a statement in Parliament on child abuse investigations. 'I can now tell the House that the government will establish an independent inquiry panel of experts in the law and child...
- Inquest Or Inquiry? Litvinenko
Update 3rd October - Litvinenko's widow to seek judicial review of decision not to hold an inquiry - RTE Ireland Update 12th July - an Inquiry has been ruled out even though the Coroner (Owen J) requested it - BBC News UK 12th July Update...
- Brief Notes On The Azelle Rodney Inquiry
Update 31st July 2014 - The former Police Officer, referred to as E7, has been charged with the murder of Azelle Rodney. See the Crown Prosecution Service announcement on this. In April 2005, Azelle Rodney (then aged 24) was shot by the Metropolitan...
- Coroners: A Voice For Grieving Relatives
One of the oldest offices known to the law is that of Coroner. Writing in The Times 1st May, Frances Gibb drew attention to how Coroners have become the voice of grieving relatives seeking to expose systemic failings which may have contributed to...