A murder case in the UK became the first victims of the strike of lawyers because of cuts in the criminal justice system. The lawyers involved in the strike, seeking to force the government to change the scheme of Graded and attorneys ‘ fees.
Appeared Tanzania immigrant accused of killing his wife in a London court without a lawyer Wednesday, April 4.
The lawyer representing KEMA Salom, 38, who allegedly stabbed Leila Mtumwa, 36, on Friday, March 30, said that they tried to contact 30 different legal chambers in London, but to no avail.
Criminal bar Association, with the support of the bar Council, is on strike because of their opposition finished the diagram and attorneys ‘ fees (gas stations), which entered into force on 1 April.
The Accused Get A Lawyer To Court?
Judge Anuja Dhir QC to set the date of September 24 for trial Salum, but it remains to be seen whether his lawyer, Seona White, will be able to find a lawyer willing to take this case.
“I don’t know how long the situation with the lawyer is not taking on legal aided work. I hope this will be resolved quickly,” Ms. white said the judge, sitting at the old Bailey.
In England and Wales there are two levels of lawyer — Solicitors and barristers, only the latter is able to defend clients in the crown court.
The criminal bar Association says, prisons, courts, police and probation services are “underfunded and in chaos.”
It is 4,000 barristers in the UK, and they voted to strike earlier this year in protest at low fees is available under gas stations.
The criminal justice system crumbling’
“The criminal justice system is collapsing. Ruthless downsizing and the refusal to recognize the importance of a principled, not political, approach has left us all reeling,” said Chairman of the Association, Angela Rafferty QC.
She said that the Ministry of justice has already “meager and inadequate budget” faced a further £600 million reduction in the next two years.
“Members of the public of the dangers of miscarriages of justice and the public’s faith in the jury system is undermined by the chaos in the courts,” said Ms. Rafferty.
She noted that over the past 20 years, the attorney’s fees from the scheme legal state aid has been cut by nearly 40 percent.
“We are facing a crisis of recruitment and retention. Those from less privileged backgrounds should be able to see that a sustainable and viable careers in the criminal court or they just don’t come,” said miss Rafferty.
“Any actions to disrupt the courts is unacceptable and we take all necessary measures to ensure that legal representation is available to defendants in criminal cases” the Ministry of justice, – said the representative of the press Association.
“We appreciate the work of criminal lawyers and will continue to engage with the rod over their concerns about the scheme stations. Our reforms to replace the archaic scheme, under which solicitors are paid on the pages of evidence. Under the new scheme, in the case of murder would lead to a 16% increase in fees to lawyers,” he added.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
