Category Archives: Criminal Law

Corroboration abolition opposed

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Iain Nisbet

Lords Cullen and Hamilton have given separate interviews making public their opposition to the Scottish Government’s proposed abolition of the requirement for corroboration in criminal trials in Scotland. I find it interesting that they gave separate interviews, each one supporting … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, News, Scottish Government | Leave a comment

law will eat itself

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Iain Nisbet

Very exciting news that the Tommy Sheridan pantomime is to continue. The former editor of the News of the World Scotland, Bob Bird, has been charged in connection with Tommy Sheridan’s defamation action. He has been charged with attempting to … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, Defamation, News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Begone bastard!

Posted on July 1, 2012 by Iain Nisbet

Michael McMahon MSP has launched a consultation on his proposed Reform of Criminal Verdicts (Scotland) Bill which proposes abolishing the peculiarly Scottish “not proven” verdict in criminal trials – famously described by Sir Walter Scott as “that bastard verdict”.  It also … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, News, Scottish Parliament | Tagged | 2 Comments

Max Evans has had a busy week

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Iain Nisbet

Max Evans has had a busy week.  Fresh from being acquitted by a jury of his peers at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, he received a yellow card in today’s Six Nations Ireland v. Scotland test match. Earlier this week, a jury … Continue reading →

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More Sheridan shenanigans

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Iain Nisbet

So, Tommy Sheridan has been released from prison after serving one year of a three year sentence.  And thus the well loved politician returns to entertain and agitate. He is to be electronically tagged for the final six months of … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, Defamation, News | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Strictly Come Legislating

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Iain Nisbet

New laws giving Scotland’s police and prosecutors the additional tools they have asked for to extract ‘poisonous comments of hatred’ from Scottish ballroom and threats of harm being posted on the internet have been passed by the Scottish Parliament today. … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, Just for Fun, Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

You are the (Sher)Ref

Posted on June 18, 2011 by Iain Nisbet

So, I was reading through the draft Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill, which seems to be really broad in its attempts to crack down on sectarianism.  I tried to think back to my legislation honours classes … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament | Tagged , | 15 Comments

As ithers see us …

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Iain Nisbet

So, Basshunter has been cleared of charges of sexual assault at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.  Which is fine, but what interested me was the way in which it was reported in some online news media. In particular, I was amused by … Continue reading →

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Sheridan seeks silk to sack

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Iain Nisbet

Breaking news (of the world): Tommy Sheridan is searching for a QC to sack publically during his appeal against his conviction for perjury. Friends said the former MSP and Scottish Socialist party leader was spending what he expects to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, Faculty of Advocates, Just for Fun | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Hot air weaponry

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Iain Nisbet

More marginalia from the Scotland Bill.  Section 11 would give the Scottish Parliament legislative competence in relation to air weapons.  Specifically, it would give Ministers the power to require a licence to use an airgun or even to prohibit them … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, News, Scottish Government | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment