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    Judge falls asleep during child rape case

    Kitkat
    Kitkat
    Kitkat

    • Post n°1

    Judge falls asleep during child rape case Empty Judge falls asleep during child rape case

    Post by Kitkat Sat 26 Jul 2014, 13:27

    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.  judge 

    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.

    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".

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-28498362
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