Justice does NOT move quickly
At the start of the year, I dealt with a client who was accused of an affray. The case was considered too serious for the magistrates so the bench directed that it be committed for trial at the Crown Court. The defendant was remanded in custody for his own protection (he was considered to be at high risk of self-harm). For reasons known only to the CPS, they took the view that as the allegation was so serious they would reduce the charge to common assault thus reducing the maximum possible sentence and meaning that the case could now only be heard in the magistrates' court. A trial date was set for the end of February. Yesterday the case came before the court. By now the client had been assessed by two psychiatrists and deemed to have no mental health problems. Having calmed down a lot in three weeks since I last saw him he no longer appeared to be at risk of self-harm and was hoping to be released to await trial. The judge spoke to the list office an...