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| Plan to abolish corroboration put on hold by Scottish government | Plan to abolish corroboration put on hold by Scottish government |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Controversial plans to end the need for evidence in Scottish criminal trials to come from two sources have been delayed by the government. | Controversial plans to end the need for evidence in Scottish criminal trials to come from two sources have been delayed by the government. |
| Detailed scrutiny of plans to ditch the general requirement for corroboration are now on hold under after a review of the change is completed in April 2015. | |
| Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said he was still committed to the reform. | |
| Conservative MSP Annabel Goldie said postponing the law was a "very welcome change in position". | |
| The move to end the requirement of corroboration, contained in the Scottish government's Criminal Justice Bill, was needed because too many victims were being denied justice, Mr MacAskill has said. | |
| The change is backed by police and prosecutors, but there has been fierce opposition from other sections of the legal profession and Holyrood's political parties, who had called for a delay to the passage of the legislation. | |
| Concerns which have been expressed include an increased risk of miscarriages of justice. | |
| MSPs have already passed the bill in principle, but the legislation will now not go forward to its second stage of parliamentary scrutiny until after a review on additional safeguards which may be required alongside the change - being conducted by former High Court judge Lord Bonomy - is completed in spring next year. | |
| Mr MacAskill, who outlined the move to parliament, said: "The Scottish government remains firmly committed to all aspects of the Criminal Justice Bill, including our proposals to abolish the requirement for corroboration - which as I have said time and again, is a barrier to justice for too many victims of crimes which are committed behind closed doors, such as rape and domestic abuse. | |
| "When we announced the creation of Lord Bonomy's review group in February, there were calls - including from the Law Society and Faculty of Advocates - for us to remove the corroboration reform from the bill and to bring forward a separate bill later in the session once Lord Bonomy had reported. | |
| "That was not acceptable as it is one of the key reforms in the bill and is vital to improving the criminal justice system for vulnerable victims." | |
| Mr MacAskill added: "However, we have also made clear our willingness to listen to constructive proposals in relation to this key legislation. | |
| "That is why we gave careful consideration to - and in the spirit of co-operation have accepted - the suggestion from opposition members that Stage 2 should commence after Lord Bonomy's review has been completed." |