that shop-lifting police woman cleared....

[Mirrorball]

surely this is a total waste of police time/court time/legal costs... she allegedly stole make up worth £12 from tesco... how on earth did this get to court? because she was a police woman, or because she denied the charge of theft?

She's either really stupid and did try to steal it or it actually was a case of an item she put in her trolley and forgot about! sheeeesh.

It went to Crown Court at her request where she would be tried by a jury, rather than having it dealt with at a lower level in the Magistrate's Court.

Anyone faced with a charge such as theft, which calls in question their character and where a conviction could affect their future employment etc can elect to be tried by jury in Crown Court.

The test for conviction by a jury is 'beyond reasonable doubt' so a clever barriaster just needs to plant a seed of doubt in one of the 12 jurors and their client is unlikely to be convicted.

Quite good odds I'd say of getting off.

For the time being anyway, as their are proposals to remove that right.

the thing about 'either way' (CC or mags.) isn't to do with character or employment - it's to d owith the actual alleged offence. Alot of offences are either way.

but yes, the waste of money for small crimes to be heard at CC is vast.

hello Pan!

hello you!!!

You are very seasonal. Do you migrate?

Ha ha!! Good one.

yes I am posting from my winter palace in the South Seas. How clever of you to notice!!

I thought so!