Constance Briscoe dragged into Huhne's mire?
Discussion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22875993
Or perhaps not. Maybe it is just the CPS getting into bullying mode, as it seems to have done in the recent cases against celebrities accused of sexual assaults.
Former Coronation Street star Andrew Lansing was recently found not guilty of charges brought, which looked shaky from media reports - but the CPS decided a prosecution "was in the public interest".
What I wonder is Constance Briscoe likely to get if found guilty... is it REALLY in the public interest?
Or perhaps not. Maybe it is just the CPS getting into bullying mode, as it seems to have done in the recent cases against celebrities accused of sexual assaults.
Former Coronation Street star Andrew Lansing was recently found not guilty of charges brought, which looked shaky from media reports - but the CPS decided a prosecution "was in the public interest".
BBC News said:
Constance Briscoe to be charged over Huhne points case
Barrister and part-time judge Constance Briscoe is to be charged with two counts of intending to pervert the course of justice, prosecutors say.
It is alleged she gave inaccurate statements to police investigating the speeding points case that saw ex-minister Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce jailed.
Ms Briscoe, 56, is accused over statements given to Essex Police between May 2011 and October last year.
She has denied the allegations.
The first count alleges that, between 16 May 2011 and 6 October last year, she provided Essex Police with two statements that were inaccurate, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said in a statement.
The second alleges that on 6 October last year she produced a copy of her witness statement that had been altered and maintained that it was the correct version.
'Deeply distressed'
CPS senior lawyer Deborah Walsh said the CPS had decided there was sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and charges were in the public interest.
In a statement, Ms Briscoe said: "I am deeply distressed at the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service to charge me today. I have not committed the offences alleged against me and I will fight the allegations in court.
"There is a great deal more I would like to say now but I have been advised that I should not do so at this stage.
"I ask only that no judgement is reached against me on the basis of this prosecution decision and before the full facts are heard.
"I will make no further comment."
Former Liberal Democrat Huhne, 58, and Pryce, 60, both served two months of an eight-month sentence for perverting the course of justice after Pryce took his speeding points for him.
They were released last month.
The speeding incident took place in March 2003 when Huhne's BMW car was caught by a speed camera on the M11 between Stansted Airport, in Essex, and London.
'Witness of the truth'
Huhne, a former energy secretary, changed his plea to guilty on the first day of his trial in February after failing to have the case dismissed. He resigned as an MP on the same day.
Pryce was found guilty in March after a retrial. The first jury failed to reach a decision.
Ms Briscoe, a neighbour of Pryce in Clapham, south London, was arrested in October 2012 and suspended by the Office of Judicial Complaints.
It had been expected that Ms Briscoe would give evidence during the Pryce trial.
However, the prosecution dropped her as a witness, telling the court she could no longer be put forward as a "witness of the truth" because she was being investigated by police on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
The charges are the result of that investigation.
How much money and resources have been wasted on this investigation - I say wasted, as Huhne only spent 8 weeks in jail of his 8 MONTH sentence!Barrister and part-time judge Constance Briscoe is to be charged with two counts of intending to pervert the course of justice, prosecutors say.
It is alleged she gave inaccurate statements to police investigating the speeding points case that saw ex-minister Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce jailed.
Ms Briscoe, 56, is accused over statements given to Essex Police between May 2011 and October last year.
She has denied the allegations.
The first count alleges that, between 16 May 2011 and 6 October last year, she provided Essex Police with two statements that were inaccurate, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said in a statement.
The second alleges that on 6 October last year she produced a copy of her witness statement that had been altered and maintained that it was the correct version.
'Deeply distressed'
CPS senior lawyer Deborah Walsh said the CPS had decided there was sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and charges were in the public interest.
In a statement, Ms Briscoe said: "I am deeply distressed at the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service to charge me today. I have not committed the offences alleged against me and I will fight the allegations in court.
"There is a great deal more I would like to say now but I have been advised that I should not do so at this stage.
"I ask only that no judgement is reached against me on the basis of this prosecution decision and before the full facts are heard.
"I will make no further comment."
Former Liberal Democrat Huhne, 58, and Pryce, 60, both served two months of an eight-month sentence for perverting the course of justice after Pryce took his speeding points for him.
They were released last month.
The speeding incident took place in March 2003 when Huhne's BMW car was caught by a speed camera on the M11 between Stansted Airport, in Essex, and London.
'Witness of the truth'
Huhne, a former energy secretary, changed his plea to guilty on the first day of his trial in February after failing to have the case dismissed. He resigned as an MP on the same day.
Pryce was found guilty in March after a retrial. The first jury failed to reach a decision.
Ms Briscoe, a neighbour of Pryce in Clapham, south London, was arrested in October 2012 and suspended by the Office of Judicial Complaints.
It had been expected that Ms Briscoe would give evidence during the Pryce trial.
However, the prosecution dropped her as a witness, telling the court she could no longer be put forward as a "witness of the truth" because she was being investigated by police on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
The charges are the result of that investigation.
What I wonder is Constance Briscoe likely to get if found guilty... is it REALLY in the public interest?
Briscoe dragged herself into this case if what the prosecution is correct.
We have a judge guilty (see condition above) of perverting the course of justice. I would suggest that this comes fairly high up the list of essential prosecutions. If high standards of conduct, including not breaking serious laws, are not maintained by judges then where are we?
We have a judge guilty (see condition above) of perverting the course of justice. I would suggest that this comes fairly high up the list of essential prosecutions. If high standards of conduct, including not breaking serious laws, are not maintained by judges then where are we?
Mill Wheel, thanks for the Cumbria police and the rumours about the Teacher link. 
I seem to remember a thread that was heading this way in the News and Politics section but it wasn't on the front page when I looked earlier.
PLAN? Proportionate, Legal, Accountable/Authorised, Necessary?
I wonder how many more important issues are having a blind eye turned to them and waiting for the travelling community to arrive and cover stuff up?
Dealing with this is important, but costs were cited in a programme about supporting young women that have been victims of grooming gangs on a Radio 4 programme lastnight. She could have saved us this money if she'd been legit and stayed out of it.
It's not what you know.....
A police officer may have once said to me that some officers of rank couldn't sit back and wait for things to progress and see if they resolve themselves and couldn't resist having to do something, usually there and then. Some people can't resist temptation, be it to interfere or snoop on the lives and data of others.
If you've done nothing wrong....
PLAN = Just because you can doesn't mean you should?
I seem to remember a thread that was heading this way in the News and Politics section but it wasn't on the front page when I looked earlier.
PLAN? Proportionate, Legal, Accountable/Authorised, Necessary?
I wonder how many more important issues are having a blind eye turned to them and waiting for the travelling community to arrive and cover stuff up?
Dealing with this is important, but costs were cited in a programme about supporting young women that have been victims of grooming gangs on a Radio 4 programme lastnight. She could have saved us this money if she'd been legit and stayed out of it.
It's not what you know.....
A police officer may have once said to me that some officers of rank couldn't sit back and wait for things to progress and see if they resolve themselves and couldn't resist having to do something, usually there and then. Some people can't resist temptation, be it to interfere or snoop on the lives and data of others.
If you've done nothing wrong....
PLAN = Just because you can doesn't mean you should?
Edited by carinaman on Wednesday 12th June 18:10
10 Pence Short said:
She's only described as prominent because her own family tried to sue her and the case was widely reported.
Infamous would be a better description.
I seem to remember her on question time.Infamous would be a better description.
There are few black judges out there, or even recorders, so perhaps a bit harsh to suggest the libel case is the only reason she is prominent. Further, although I know very little about the case, wasn't it settled in her favour? The jury believed that her mother did abuse her as a kid.
I thought she came over quite well on QT.
I've not seen that many images of her. I think she looks OK, and I am wondering if I need to have a word with myself as I also find Sally Bercow appealing. I'm finding wrong 'uns attractive?
Isn't slapping down anyone that comes across as being too big for their boots par for the course regardless of race?
You could have a point that some mey get jealous and be insecure so there could be some advantages to be gained from bringing others down.
Isn't slapping down anyone that comes across as being too big for their boots par for the course regardless of race?
You could have a point that some mey get jealous and be insecure so there could be some advantages to be gained from bringing others down.
Edited by carinaman on Wednesday 12th June 20:14
Derek Smith said:
We have a judge guilty (see condition above) of perverting the course of justice. I would suggest that this comes fairly high up the list of essential prosecutions. If high standards of conduct, including not breaking serious laws, are not maintained by judges then where are we?
Absolutely.There should be significantly higher standards applied to judges.
This is her on QT, at least the bit I remember:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D_ME5jyG_c
And one I read about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSK2AuF-UsQ
I wouldn't suggest I agree with everything she says, or anything some to that, but I thought she came over well.
And why does she think she's ugly?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D_ME5jyG_c
And one I read about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSK2AuF-UsQ
I wouldn't suggest I agree with everything she says, or anything some to that, but I thought she came over well.
And why does she think she's ugly?
Edited by Derek Smith on Wednesday 12th June 22:00
After reading this:
"The second alleges that on 6 October last year she produced a copy of her witness statement that had been altered and maintained that it was the correct version."
I'd say she would have to have some serious brass neck to think she could get away with making such a claim, and given the determination to catch Huhne "at it" perhaps mistakes WERE made in the recording of her statement.
In her press release, Briscoe says:
"There is a great deal more I would like to say now but I have been advised that I should not do so at this stage.
"I ask only that no judgement is reached against me on the basis of this prosecution decision and before the full facts are heard.
"I will make no further comment."
She was due to be a prosecution witness against Huhne, so I wonder if the CPS are irked that her revised statement put their case under some pressure?
She does seem confident in that statement.
I am finding this more interesting than the Huhne case!!
"The second alleges that on 6 October last year she produced a copy of her witness statement that had been altered and maintained that it was the correct version."
I'd say she would have to have some serious brass neck to think she could get away with making such a claim, and given the determination to catch Huhne "at it" perhaps mistakes WERE made in the recording of her statement.
In her press release, Briscoe says:
"There is a great deal more I would like to say now but I have been advised that I should not do so at this stage.
"I ask only that no judgement is reached against me on the basis of this prosecution decision and before the full facts are heard.
"I will make no further comment."
She was due to be a prosecution witness against Huhne, so I wonder if the CPS are irked that her revised statement put their case under some pressure?
She does seem confident in that statement.
I am finding this more interesting than the Huhne case!!
carinaman said:
Well Roadcraft does say those that exceed speed limits are likely to commit other crimes.
That may well be right but there is no statistical evidence to support it. However, there was research into more serious motoring offences, such as reckless (as was) and disqual driving and the evidence was open to interpretation, and perhaps misinterpretation.
There was a suggestion that banning drivers made them more likely to commit other offences. The reasoning was rather convoluted but in essence it was felt that the concomitant penalties, such as loss of job, socialising, that sort of thing, could be enough to change a person's lifestyle.
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