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| Ruling due in witness murder case | Ruling due in witness murder case |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Law Lords are expected to rule later on whether a police force breached the human rights of a witness who was murdered before he could give evidence. | Law Lords are expected to rule later on whether a police force breached the human rights of a witness who was murdered before he could give evidence. |
| Hertfordshire Police were found to have failed to protect Giles Van Colle, 25, who was shot dead in November 2000. | Hertfordshire Police were found to have failed to protect Giles Van Colle, 25, who was shot dead in November 2000. |
| Police counsel said his killer's actions could not have been foreseen and did not involve human rights laws. | Police counsel said his killer's actions could not have been foreseen and did not involve human rights laws. |
| The Law Lords' ruling could affect policing, national and local government, it has been claimed. | The Law Lords' ruling could affect policing, national and local government, it has been claimed. |
| In a separate case, the House of Lords will also rule on a challenge by Sussex Police that it was negligent in failing to protect a man who was attacked by his former partner. | In a separate case, the House of Lords will also rule on a challenge by Sussex Police that it was negligent in failing to protect a man who was attacked by his former partner. |
| Stephen Smith had repeatedly warned Brighton police that he was in danger from Gareth Jeffrey who later attacked him with a claw hammer. | |
| Mr Van Colle's family have also appealed against the halving of £50,000 they were awarded in damages against Hertfordshire Police. | Mr Van Colle's family have also appealed against the halving of £50,000 they were awarded in damages against Hertfordshire Police. |
| 'Crucial witness' | 'Crucial witness' |
| Mr Van Colle was shot by Daniel Brougham in north west London. | Mr Van Colle was shot by Daniel Brougham in north west London. |
| He had been due to give evidence against Brougham, a former employee, who was sacked for stealing. | He had been due to give evidence against Brougham, a former employee, who was sacked for stealing. |
| Mr Van Colle's family said Hertfordshire Police had failed in their duties under the Human Rights Act. | Mr Van Colle's family said Hertfordshire Police had failed in their duties under the Human Rights Act. |
| Monika Carss-Frisk QC said police "not only did nothing to protect Giles but did not even address the need to protect this crucial witness". | Monika Carss-Frisk QC said police "not only did nothing to protect Giles but did not even address the need to protect this crucial witness". |
| Last year three appeal judges rejected a challenge by the force that they had violated his human rights laws in failing to "discharge the positive obligation of the police" to protect his life. | Last year three appeal judges rejected a challenge by the force that they had violated his human rights laws in failing to "discharge the positive obligation of the police" to protect his life. |
| The Home Office, Equality and Human Rights Commission and four charities, Inquest, Justice, Liberty and Mind, are involved in the actions before the court. | The Home Office, Equality and Human Rights Commission and four charities, Inquest, Justice, Liberty and Mind, are involved in the actions before the court. |
| Previously the Equality and Human Rights Commission, has said a judgment against Hertfordshire Police would result in "significant policy and procedural change within the police force". | Previously the Equality and Human Rights Commission, has said a judgment against Hertfordshire Police would result in "significant policy and procedural change within the police force". |