http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/world/2239357 Nov. 21, 2003, 12:42AM Britain to curb famous legal rule By ED JOHNSON Associated Press LONDON -- The British Parliament on Thursday approved legislation to overturn "double jeopardy" protection for offenses such as murder, rape and armed robbery. The centuries-old legal rule prevents suspects being tried twice for a crime and is enshrined in the legal codes of many of Britain's former colonies, including the United States. But under the Criminal Justice Bill, introduced by Prime Minister Tony Blair's government, a person acquitted of certain serious offenses will face a second trial if compelling new details, such as DNA evidence, come to light. The legislation, hailed by the government as the biggest reform of Britain's criminal justice system in a generation, now only needs royal assent, which is virtually automatic, before it becomes law. . . .
I should have added, hey the British beat Ashcroft to it. OTOH, I think if they have direct physical evidence, trials for murder should supercede double jeopardy.
the english have stopped speaking english and they're discarding tons of well-founded, well-resolved english law. they're tearing apart jury trials as well.
if DNA evidence later shows someone to be in fact guilty? where's the justice in allowing someone known to guilty to continue to walk around free?
because he already went through a trial...and because we don't convict on DNA evidence, alone. we don't just say, "go to the chemist and he'll tell us if you're guilty." agreed, that evidence can be overwhelming...but given problems with DNA labs here in Houston, you'd still have to put it to a jury. and doing that twice is something our forefathers thought not such a good idea...even if new evidence is discovered later on. the government gets one shot to lock you away for one offense.
Bad Move. There's a reason it's been a cornerstone of our law for centuries. If it's changed, there is too much room for abuse.
by "our" law, I assume you don't mean American law...right? you saw this is taking place in the UK, right?
well, our "law" didn't grant full citizenship to blacks 200 years ago, nor rights to women, (nor did it recognize gay marriage) so the law is constantly evolving. in this case, if the technology exists to right a greivious wrong i can't say i see the harm, w/in strict guidelines.
i understand what you're saying...but double jeopardy is a bedrock principle...it's not a reinterpretation of the same words, here...this is literally like taking one of the bill of rights and absolutely crossing it out as no longer applicable. this is truly one of the very foundations of our law. 5th Amendment: ...nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb...
Double Jeopardy keeps folx from just pecking and pecking and pecking for instance .. . OJ [since jorje brought him] they may say .. u know what . .. we can't get him SO LET'S JUST PROSECUTE HIM INTO POVERTY Keep bring up cases until he runs out of money or cannot afford a good lawyer to thow out the ridiculous crap they call evidence Rocket River
I don't follow British politics much because, frankly, I can't understand a bloody word they say. But why would they implement such a *HUGE* change? Was it to honor Bush's visit? BRITS: See?! We can strip rights, too! BUSH: Sweet.
