Charles Bott speaks out on jury-led trials at Offshore Alert
Seriously misguided” – Charles Bott KC slams UK plans to scrap juries.
Speaking exclusively to GRIP at London’s OffshoreAlert conference, our Head of Advocacy Charles Bott KC rejected the efficiency arguments UK government ministers are using to justify the move away from jury trials.
“For me, the most important subject at the moment in criminal justice generally, and in fraud trials, is whether in this country we retain the right of defendants to be tried by a jury – a right that they’ve enjoyed for centuries.”
“I’ve done many fraud trials, I’ve listened to all the arguments about why trial without a jury will be more efficient, will save money… But I’m convinced that this is something of real importance and I hope the government will reflect on this and think again.”
Charles’ comments followed a panel session with Rachel Blake MP, where he discussed the UK’s £350 billion ($462 billion) economic crime crisis. During the session, he described his practice to delegates as operating in “the endangered territory of the trial by jury.”
“Any idea that there could be a short-term saving and a reduction of court waiting times by reducing trial by jury is short-sighted and, in my view, seriously misguided,” he said.
This follows a highly-successful sponsorship of Offshore Alert London by MKS Law, at which both Charles Bott KC and Dan Wise, our partner, spoke.
