Bad Character Evidence Must Be Considered Cumulatively, Not Separately: UK SC [Read Judgment]

Reliance on cumulative past incidents in support of a case of propensity may indeed illuminate the truth of the currently indicted allegations, but excessive recourse to such history may skew the trial in a way which distracts attention from the central issue, it said.The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in R v Mitchell (Northern Ireland), has observed, that where there are several...

‘Good Character Test’ For Children Born To Unmarried Parents Discriminative: UK SC [Read Judgment]

Not reasonable to impose the additional hurdle of a good character test upon persons who would, but for their parents’ marital status, have automatically acquired citizenship at birth, the Court held.In an important pronouncement, the Supreme Court of United Kingdom has declared that paragraph 70 of Schedule 9 to the Immigration Act 2014, which imposes a requirement that an applicant...

Saudi Arabia Executes Prince For Murdering Youth

Legitimate punishment would be the fate of whoever tries to assault innocent people and shed their blood, the Interior Ministry statement read.Saudi Arabia has executed a member of its royal family after he was found guilty of murdering a young man.Three years ago, Prince Turki bin Saud bin Turki bin Saud Al-Kabeer was convicted for shooting a Saudi national, Adel bin Suleiman bin Abdul...

Only Unanimous Jury Decision May Approve Death Penalty: Florida SC [Read Judgment]

The Florida Supreme Court on Friday declared the State’s death penalty law as unconstitutional as it does not require a unanimous jury decision to impose the sentence. Florida law only required 10 out of 12 votes to approve death penalty.In the 5 to 2 ruling, the Judges concluded that “the Sixth Amendment right to a trial by jury mandates that under Florida’s capital sentencing scheme,...

Indonesia Approves Chemical Castration For Paedophiles

In a toughened stand against child sex abuse, the Indonesian parliament has voted in favour of a law that enables chemical castration and even execution of convicted offenders. The decision was primarily in response to the public outrage after murder and gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in April.The new law prescribes a sentence ranging from 10 to 20 years for repeat offenders and for those...

US SC Restricts Scope Of ‘Victim Impact’ Evidence In Death Penalty

Vacating the judgment of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals which had affirmed the death sentence of a convict in a triple murder case, the Supreme Court of the United States has reiterated that it has not overruled a decision that bars victims’ family members from recommending a death sentence.It said a capital sentencing jury considering victim impact evidence that does not...

Marshall Islands Loses Battle Against Nuclear Giants India, UK, Pak

A tiny island nation might have lost the battle against nuclear ‘giants’, but it could be an inspiration for some to fight for a safe world free from nuclear weapons.Marshall Islands’, a small island country in the Pacific, fight against three nuclear powers - Britain, India and Pakistan - for their non-cooperation in nuclear disarmament, in the International Court of Justice got nipped...

Pak Chief Justice Slams Political Parties For Endorsing Terrorism

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Anwar Zaheer Jamali has condemned local political and religious parties for endorsing terrorism. He admitted that foreign elements receive internal backing and are harboured for personal gains.Speaking on the commencement of the new judicial year, Justice Jamali enunciated his concerns regarding the dismal state of judiciary in the country and the price...

Bangladesh Supreme Court upholds Mir Quasem Ali’s death sentence [Read Judgment]

Bangladesh Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed a review appeal by Jamaat-e-Islami leader, Mir Quasem Ali and upheld his death sentence for ‘crimes against humanity ’during the Bangladesh war of independence in 1971. He was earlier convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal Bangladesh (ICTB) in 2014 which was also upheld by the Supreme Court in March this year. The court held that...

Pakistan SC upholds death sentence of 16 terror convicts [Read Judgment]

Dismissing petitions of alleged violations of the constitution, the Five Judge Bench of Pakistan Supreme Court upheld death sentences of 16 accused persons convicted under terror related charges by the Military Court. The Bench ruled that the appellants failed to prove miscarriage of justice on account of procedural and constitutional abuse.The petitioners raised allegations of denial of...

France’s highest administrative Court suspends Burkini ban

The much controversial Burkini ban has been suspended by the highest administrative Court of France. The court stated that it "seriously and clearly illegally breached fundamental freedoms" and that the local authorities did not have the power to restrict individual liberties in this way without "proven risk" to public order. As per a report in BBC, the final verdict on the ban will be...

New process for appointment of SC judges introduced in Canada: Read how it's different from India's NJAC

For the first time, any qualified Canadian lawyer or judge may apply for appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada. Now any qualified Canadian lawyer or judge may apply for appointment as Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, thanks to landmark reform introduced by the Canadian Government. The Prime Minister of Canada last week, has announced a new process for appointing Supreme Court of...