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First jury-less trial to be heard First jury-less trial to be heard
(about 8 hours later)
Four men are to appear in court later in the first Crown Court criminal trial to be held without a jury in England and Wales for more than 350 years.Four men are to appear in court later in the first Crown Court criminal trial to be held without a jury in England and Wales for more than 350 years.
Last June, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, made legal history by allowing the trial to be heard by a judge alone, as he feared jury "tampering".Last June, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, made legal history by allowing the trial to be heard by a judge alone, as he feared jury "tampering".
It is the first time the power has been used since it came into force in 2007.It is the first time the power has been used since it came into force in 2007.
The case, to be heard at London's Royal Courts of Justice, concerns four men accused of an armed robbery in 2004.The case, to be heard at London's Royal Courts of Justice, concerns four men accused of an armed robbery in 2004.
John Twomey, Barry Hibberd, Peter Blake, and Glen Cameron are alleged to have rounded up staff at gunpoint at a warehouse at Heathrow Airport and made off with £1.75m.John Twomey, Barry Hibberd, Peter Blake, and Glen Cameron are alleged to have rounded up staff at gunpoint at a warehouse at Heathrow Airport and made off with £1.75m.
It is the fourth trial connected to the robbery.It is the fourth trial connected to the robbery.
Police protectionPolice protection
BBC legal affairs analyst Clive Coleman said trial by jury was a hallowed principle stretching back to the Magna Carta in 1215.BBC legal affairs analyst Clive Coleman said trial by jury was a hallowed principle stretching back to the Magna Carta in 1215.
But, he said, it was now limited by legislation, which allowed non-jury trial if, as Lord Judge found in this case, there was a real and present danger of jury tampering which could not reasonably be protected against.But, he said, it was now limited by legislation, which allowed non-jury trial if, as Lord Judge found in this case, there was a real and present danger of jury tampering which could not reasonably be protected against.
Last June, Lord Judge said the cost of the measures needed to protect jurors from potential influence, such as the services of police officers, was too high and that such measures might not properly insulate them.Last June, Lord Judge said the cost of the measures needed to protect jurors from potential influence, such as the services of police officers, was too high and that such measures might not properly insulate them.
The trial will be the first Crown Court case in England and Wales to be heard by a judge alone using powers under Sections 44 and 46 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which came into force in July 2007.The trial will be the first Crown Court case in England and Wales to be heard by a judge alone using powers under Sections 44 and 46 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which came into force in July 2007.
No-jury trials are a more regular feature of justice elsewhere in the UK.No-jury trials are a more regular feature of justice elsewhere in the UK.
Diplock courts have been used in Northern Ireland since 1973 to combat jury intimidation by paramilitary groups.Diplock courts have been used in Northern Ireland since 1973 to combat jury intimidation by paramilitary groups.
And some criminal cases in Scotland are heard by a sheriff in the Sheriff Court or by a bench of one or more lay justices in the District Court. And some criminal cases in Scotland are heard by a sheriff in the Sheriff Court or by a bench of one or more lay justices in justice of the peace courts.