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10 Most Famous Trials in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a country in the northwestern part of the continent of Europe. The kingdom is made up of four kingdoms. They are inclusive of England, Scotland, Wales, and North Ireland.

The population of the country is about 67.22 million people. All this citizens possess different characters as well as behaviors. For this reason, laws, rule and regulations have been gazette in the constitution. This is to act as a guide and control to the people from going to some extremes.

The law breakers are charged accordingly in courts of law. The country has five divisions of the courts. They include the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Crown Court, and the Magistrates’ Courts.

These are administered by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service, who are the executive agency of the Ministry of Justice.

There are 117 prisons in England and Wales. 104 of the prisons are under her majesty’s Prisons and Probation service. The other 13 are operated by three private companies. There are about 79514 prisoners in the country.

Murder cases, sexual abuse and irresponsible behaviors are the main trials that have been carried out in the courts. Some of the trial proceedings happened to attract attention to the public thus gaining fame.

The following are the most famous trials in the United Kingdom.

1. The world’s end murder trial.

Angus Sinclair was a serial killer from Scotland. His trial changed Scotland’s judicial system. He was accused of raping and killing two girls. In addition, he was convicted of two killings to make it four but suspected to have more cases of the same.

During his first trial, the prosecutor failed to put vital forensic evidence before the jury. That saved Sinclair the first time, for he could not be tried twice. After some years, he was tried again. This was after the legislation allowed ‘compelling new evidence’. He was convicted and jailed.

2. The secret trial.

Erol Inedal was suspected of terrorism in London. He was 26 years old at the time. The Crown Prosecution Service sought to stage the trial in total secrecy. The case was held after the bid was overturned by the Court of Appeal.

The case was being held in total secrecy gave the victims a chance to open up. Some evidence was heard in the secrecy. A law student was found guilty of possessing a bomb-making document. Since then, there have been no other cases without public and media access.

3. Quakers William and William Medal’s trial

The victims did not make the case famous. Most famous part of this trial was the jailing of Jury in trial. The jury was promptly locked up without food or water. They were kept under watch in the worst jail in England. All these was happening because of a ‘not guilty’ verdict.

Juror Edward Bushel, one of the jailed, sought a writ of habeas corpus from the then Chief Justice, Sir John Vaughan. After this, a ruling was made which safeguarded the future independence of the juries. The jury is now left to settle on a verdict of its own choosing in its own time.

4. Adolf Beck’s trial

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This was a mistaken identity trial. The strange case of a Norwegian ship broker accused of a string of swindle on women. Despite being innocent, Adolf Beck was tried twice and convicted of fraud at the Old Bailey.

After 5 years in prison, it took several things to prove his innocence. These were inclusive of proving that he was circumcised as well as being in Peru during occurrence of the crimes. At long last, his innocence was established and a pardon issued. This trial led to introduction of the Court of Criminal Appeal.

5. John Archer’s torture trial

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In early 1500s, an 81 torture warrant was issued in England. Anyone who was shortlisted in the suspects, there had to be tortured so as to validate innocence. These was done so as to extract the necessary information. This was known as justice on the rack.

John Archer, who was a glove-maker, was accused of high treason. He was arrested during a riot. As the time’s norm, he was tortured on the rack. Unfortunately, he was innocent as the torture learned nothing. He was the last recorded warrant for judicial torture.

6. Robert Wood’s trial

He was accused of murder of Camden Town prostitute, Emily Dimmock. Robert was a client to Edward Marshall Hall KC. Robert had been convicted and was facing a death sentence. The fame of this case grew from Edward Marshall being his client’s witness.

It was unheard of before. Defendant had enjoyed the legal right to give evidence on oath. It was considered reckless to let them do so. Wood followed the different path. He charmed the jury from his stand and was duly acquitted. Afterwards, many more defendants followed his steps ending up as he did.

7. William Henry’s trial

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He was accused of stealing parcels at Weston-super-mare station. The fame of the case grew from having female jurors. Rose Heilbron and Helena Normanton were the first female jorors. They were sworn in at Bristol Quarter Sessions.

The two ladies heard Henry’s accusation. Years later, Rose went on to become the first female judge in the United Kingdom to sit at the Old Bailey. The shift of having men as the key roles in the criminal justice system was until the end of the First World War.

8. Reginald Woolmington’s trial

When he sawed the barrel off his shotgun killing his wife, he had no clue of it ending up to shape legal history. He was a twenty one years old young man when he committed the crime.

During his trial, Reginald claimed that the gun had gone off by mistake and he had no intentions of hurting her. The judge ruled the defendant should prove that the claim was true. Having no means of proving, Reginald was found guilty. He was sentenced to death.

The fame of this trial grew when the House of Lords got involved. Three days before the hanging of Reginald, they ruled that the defendant should be considered innocent until proven guilty. Woolmington Reginald was released from prison and walked free.

9. Joy Morgan’s murder trial

She was a university student. Morgan was killed by Shofah-El Israel, whom they were members of the same church. Her body could not be located. Israel was accused in a court of law.

After being found guilty, Israel was sentenced to life imprisonment. The remains of Joy Morgan were located some months later after the trial.

10. Derby sex gang trial

A group of men had sexually abused up to a hundred girls in Derby. An undercover investigation was conducted. The Derbyshire police officers successfully captured the members of the gang. They had to face the law for their judgment.

The gang was charged with 75 offenses relating to 26 girls. Nine of the members were convicted of grooming as well as raping young girls between 12 to 18 years of age. The attacks provoked fierce discussion about race and sexual exploitation.

The above are some of the many famous trials of the United Kingdom. The cases are of different kinds. The murder cases seem to be more than the others. The courts of law manned by the book and judges as law representatives have been seen to take their role into practice.