Prison barrister Paul Prior has defended and prosecuted a number of the most severe sexual offense trials in England over the previous 20 years. In April he’s scheduled to signify at trial one among two folks accused of a sexual assault that was first reported in 2019. A delay of just about 5 years.
Such prolonged time lags, says Prior, was once uncommon. Now they’re widespread even for instances deemed among the many most pressing within the system. And for victims, defendants, witnesses, legal professionals and court docket officers the backlog is getting ever longer. Fewer court docket classes, plus the affect of the Covid-19 pandemic which led to the suspension of jury trials, mixed with a scarcity of specialist rape and severe sexual offense barristers have exacerbated the scenario which means that no person was out there to signify Prior’s defendant till April, and even which may get pushed again.
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