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Straw sets out witness law plan Straw sets out witness law plan
(29 minutes later)
Justice Secretary Jack Straw is outlining to MPs details of emergency legislation to allow witnesses in some trials to remain anonymous. Jack Straw has said emergency laws to let witnesses give evidence anonymously should be in place within a fortnight.
The statement to MPs is setting out plans to allow anonymity in organised crime and some other trials. There were "overwhelming reasons" to rush in measures needed in blackmail, murder and terrorism cases, he said.
The law lords' ruling last week that defendants needed to know who was testifying against them has already led to one £6m trial being halted.The law lords' ruling last week that defendants needed to know who was testifying against them has already led to one £6m trial being halted.
Several other high profile trials have also used anonymous witnesses. Mr Straw, the justice secretary, said the changes needed to be rushed in to avoid any further cases collapsing.
The solicitor for two men found guilty of murdering teenagers Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare in Birmingham in 2003 has said he will appeal against the conviction, because anonymous witnesses were used. He said the legislation was still being drafted but it would stop people appealing against convictions if there had been anonymous witness at their trial.
Last Wednesday the law lords ruled that a man convicted in 2004 of two murders had not received a fair trial, because it was based on evidence from anonymous witnesses. He can now appeal against his conviction. Earlier this week the solicitor for two men found guilty of murdering teenagers Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare in Birmingham in 2003 said he would appeal against the conviction, because anonymous witnesses were used.
Last week the law lords ruled that a man convicted in 2004 of two murders had not received a fair trial, because it was based on evidence from anonymous witnesses. He can now appeal against his conviction.
In their ruling they said: "No conviction should be based solely or to a decisive extent upon the statements and testimony of anonymous witnesses."In their ruling they said: "No conviction should be based solely or to a decisive extent upon the statements and testimony of anonymous witnesses."
But the Metropolitan Police has said it is "very concerned" by the ruling and its potential impact on gang crime cases, in which the use of anonymous witnesses has resulted in several high-profile convictions. The Metropolitan Police have said they are "very concerned" by the ruling and its potential impact on gang crime cases, in which the use of anonymous witnesses has resulted in high-profile convictions.
Police have warned that up to 40 trials may be affected by the lords' ruling.Police have warned that up to 40 trials may be affected by the lords' ruling.
On Tuesday Justice Minister Maria Eagle recognised there was "a difficult balance to strike ... between giving witnesses who fear for their safety the confidence to give their evidence, and making sure that innocent people aren't convicted in the courts and that we have the right to a fair trial".