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Judge 'falls asleep' during child rape case | Judge 'falls asleep' during child rape case |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A judge is being investigated after he was accused of falling asleep during a child rape trial at Manchester Crown Court, forcing it to be abandoned. | |
Barristers complained Recorder Philip Cattan fell asleep as an alleged victim was cross-examined. The trial will now be re-listed as the jury was dismissed. | |
The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said it was aware of the allegation and a probe was under way. | |
It added Mr Cattan could not comment while it was being investigated. | |
'Insulting' | |
Mr Cattan is a recorder - a barrister who spends between 15 and 30 days a year sitting as judge. | Mr Cattan is a recorder - a barrister who spends between 15 and 30 days a year sitting as judge. |
If he is found guilty of misconduct, any disciplinary action will be decided by the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice. | If he is found guilty of misconduct, any disciplinary action will be decided by the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice. |
The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: "The matter is being considered in accordance with the Judicial Conduct Rules 2013." | |
The Crown Prosecution Service said the jury has been discharged "following an issue that arose at court during the cross examination of the first complainant in the case". | |
"The trial will be relisted as soon as possible. The complainants and other witnesses have been kept informed." | |
Former solicitor general Vera Baird said she was shocked by the allegation. | |
"It's a pretty personally insulting thing for somebody when you're describing probably the most important event in your life. | |
"But also what does it say about the state, about judicial governance, about the criminal justice system?" | |
She added it would reinforce general views that the judiciary "are out of touch". |