Two stories in the local paper[1] caught my eye this week.

(Articles paraphrased so that you don't have to suffer their spelling, punctuation and grammar like wot I have had to dun.[2])

A man will appear in a magistrates' court today (Saturday) charged
with a murder which took place in 2023. The accused was arrested on
suspicion of assault in Feb 2023; re-arrested on suspicion of murder
in April 2023 after which he was released on police bail while
enquiries continued and has only now been charged. Presumably a date
for his actual trial will be set even further into the future.


Seven members of a drug gang were given prison sentences this week
after being found guilty of dealing hundreds of thousands of pounds
worth of crack cocaine, heroin, cocaine and cannabis. The gang was
"busted" by a police operation in August 2019.

Seriously: is this how long it is taking criminal cases to get to
court these days? I can understand that under these particular
circumstances leaving this suspect loose for two years wasn't likely
to lead to an uptick in the local murder rate but allowing a suspected
drug dealing gang to remain free for six years is something else
entirely.

I know the court system is in a mess and I know lots of this is the
result of political decisions taken years ago but is it actually fair
for people to have to wait months and months or even years and years
to have their cases heard? It's bad enough for the guilty but what
about those who have had their lives wrecked and on hold for months or
even years only to be found not guilty at the end of it? Is there no
legal process - an extension of habeas corpus maybe - under which a
suspect can demand "try me now or set me free."?

Nick
[1]Yes we still have a local paper. In print as well as on line. [2]<https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/huddersfield-man-charged-murder-after-31856364>

<https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/dismantling-huddersfield-drugs-gang-7-31854400?int_source=nba>

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On Sat, 14 Jun 2025 15:22:49 +0100, Nick Odell wrote:

Seriously: is this how long it is taking criminal cases to get to court
these days?

Who cares ?

As long as there are no downsides to it, why should you ?

Remember, courts aren't about *your* justice. They are about the Kings.

Now if a criminal case were to be thrown our because a panel of judges,
appeal judges and SCOTUK feel that <insert period here> is counter to
justice, then we'd be talking.

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On 14/06/2025 15:22, Nick Odell wrote:

<snip>

I know the court system is in a mess and I know lots of this is the
result of political decisions taken years ago but is it actually fair
for people to have to wait months and months or even years and years
to have their cases heard? It's bad enough for the guilty but what
about those who have had their lives wrecked and on hold for months or
even years only to be found not guilty at the end of it? Is there no
legal process - an extension of habeas corpus maybe - under which a
suspect can demand "try me now or set me free."?

I agree. We bang about mental health but having a noose hung over your
head for an extended time is the worst kind.

I believe there should be a time limit. If it's not important to present
the case before the courts in 6 months then best let go and onto the
next case.

There are also cases where someone has a curfew and ankle tagged, and
the duration of this is credited against their sentence.
An example, case takes two years to get to court, during which time the
suspect is ankle tagged. They get to court and sentenced to 4 years.
Because of the credit they leave court and return home.

It's creating an environment where it is worthwhile pleading not guilty
and extending the time on (remand)/ankle tagged.

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On Sat, 14 Jun 2025 18:32:00 +0100, Fredxx wrote:

There are also cases where someone has a curfew and ankle tagged, and
the duration of this is credited against their sentence.
An example, case takes two years to get to court, during which time the suspect is ankle tagged. They get to court and sentenced to 4 years.

What if they are sentenced to six months ?

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