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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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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 and government at national and local level, it has been claimed. | The Law Lords' ruling could affect policing and government at national and local level, it has been claimed. |
| The House of Lords is also due to rule on a second related case involving the level of protection afforded by police to a Sussex 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. | Stephen Smith had repeatedly warned Brighton police that he was in danger from Gareth Jeffrey, who later attacked him with a claw hammer. |
| 'Crucial witness' | 'Crucial witness' |
| But the case which could have far reaching legal consequences involves Mr Van Colle and a finding by the the High Court in March 2006 that Hertfordshire Police violated Articles 2 and 8 of the Human Rights Act. | But the case which could have far reaching legal consequences involves Mr Van Colle and a finding by the the High Court in March 2006 that Hertfordshire Police violated Articles 2 and 8 of the Human Rights Act. |
| Article 2 is often referred to as the right to life while Article 8 is described as the right to respect for private and family life. | |
| Mr Van Colle had been due to give evidence against Brougham, a former employee, who was sacked for stealing. | Mr Van Colle had been due to give evidence against Brougham, a former employee, who was sacked for stealing. |
| But Monika Carss-Frisk QC, counsel for Mr Van Colle's family who are also appealing against the halving of their damages to £25,000, said police "did not even address the need to protect this crucial witness". | |
| Three appeal judges rejected a challenge by the force that they had violated his human rights by 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". |