News
IPFD claims and “maintenance” needs – a look at current developments
The concept of maintenance lies at the heart of the Inheritance (Provision for Families and Dependants) Act 1975. For anyone other than a spouse, the standard of financial provision is that which is reasonably required for the Applicant’s maintenance. It is of course a concept which has its roots in matrimonial law and developments in […]
No returns policy
Individual members of the Pump Court Chambers Criminal Team have taken a decision as of 29 July that they will adopt “No Returns” in relation to all legal aid defence hearings in the Crown Court. Members of chambers will continue to do the hearings in which they are instructed but they will not do cases […]
Victoria Ellis shortlisted for award
Pump Court Chambers is delighted to announce that Victoria Ellis has been shortlisted for Young Barrister of the Year at the Annual Family Law Awards. Victoria was shortlisted following a stellar year and is fast developing a reputation for combining an empathetic manner with assertive and pragmatic legal advice. The awards recognises Chambers and barristers […]
Defendant denies murdering elderly parents’
Timothy Crook is standing trial for the murder of his elderly parents in 2007 at Bristol Crown Court. The bodies of the couple were found hidden underneath wheelie bins, when a police officer carried out a welfare check at the Lincoln home of their son. Post mortem results revealed that Mr & Mrs Crook had […]
Man accused of killing a woman by forcing a shampoo bottle into her abdomen
A jury at Winchester Crown Court has heard how a 51 year old woman has died from internal injuries two days after being admitted to hospital. Addressing the jury Mr Justice Akenhead said “You will see evidence which some of you, if not all of you will, find shocking and disturbing.” On Friday April 18th […]
Consortium breaks new grounds in Aviation litigation
The Federal High Court in Lagos Nigeria has ruled that Dana Air ought to have paid the statutory advance payment of US $30,000 to the families of the victims of its plane crash within 30 days of the accident. The court gave the decision in respect of the applications brought by 23 families of the […]
Tree-felling incident leaves worker in wheelchair
In June Richard Tutt prosecuted a Health and Safety case at the Crown Court in Amersham. Defending were Ronald Walker QC, Christopher Paxton and Philip Stott. The defendants were a company, Alpha Schools Ltd, that runs four private schools, and one of its caretakers, Paolo Mule. The company was developing a site to which it proposed […]
Life sentence for brutal murder of neighbour
Kevin Hyden 35, a drug addict from Wellington has been handed a life sentence for the killing of Davinia Loynton an officer manager from Telford.The bloodied body of Miss Loynton, 59, was found rolled up in her living room rug at her flat by distraught friends and colleagues after she failed to show up for […]
Pay reinstated after Regulation 28 decision
Colin Banham successfully represented a Derbyshire Police Officer whose sick pay had been reduced following a decision under Regulation 28 and Annex K of the Police Regulations 2003. The decision to reduce the officer’s pay was initially made by a Human Resources professional and then, on appeal, upheld by a Deputy Chief Constable [‘DCC’]. The […]
Priest sues Church for Discrimination
Justin Gau has been instructed to act on behalf of Canon Jeremy Pemberton in his discrimination case against the Church before the Employment Tribunal. Cannon Jeremby Pemberton the first priest to marry his same-sex partner was refused the licence he needed to work as a hospital chaplain by the then acting bishop of Southwell and […]
Naked rambler: why have we spent £300,000 imprisoning this harmless eccentric?
Stephen Gough has spent nine years in prison for refusing to wear clothes, but nobody else in the country is subject to the same conditions as him. Matthew Scott represented Mr Gough, commonly known as the ‘naked rambler’ at his latest hearing in the Court of Appeal for breaching an ASBO. To read the article […]
Theresa May wants to ban pleasure
The new law on legal highs is a bizarre piece of farcically bad drafting which could criminalise nuts, scented pillows, and the smell of flowers. Matthew Scott discusses the Psychoactive Substances Act in his latest article for the Telegraph. To view the article in full please click here.