Emma West trial delayed for the third time
Posted on September 8, 2012
Robert Henderson
The trial of Emma West on racially aggravated public order offences
has been delayed for the third time (
http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/Emma-West-trial-adjourned-time/story-16820636-detail/story.html
). No further date has been set. The trial was originally scheduled
for June, then July and finally September 5th. The ostensible reason
for the latest delay is the same as it was previously, further
psychiatric reports are being sought by the prosecution.
It is true that cases can be delayed several times for reasons which
are entirely legitimate. Further evidence directly relating to the
immediate facts of the case, that is, what happened rather than why
it happened, may be being sought with a reasonable chance of
success. Examples would be where witnesses have not been interviewed
because they are not in the country, but are believed to be returning
in the foreseeable future or documents are being withheld by a body
such as a bank and their release or otherwise is the subject of
ongoing court action. But there is nothing like that here, for the
delay is simply down to further psychiatric reports being wanted.
That is something largely within the control of those commissioning
them. The fact that it is the prosecution which is asking for more
reports is highly significant because it suggests that the ones they
have already commissioned are not to their liking, that is, they are
detrimental to the prosecution.
The case is not that complex. The prosecution have the recording.
They have had ample time to test it to see if it has been tampered
with. As the delay in trying the case is ascribed solely to the need
for psychiatric reports, presumably the prosecution either have
witness statements from the person who filmed the incident and
possibly others amongst the
Read more at
http://englandcalling.wordpress.com/2012/09/08/emma-west-trial-delayed-for-the-third-time/