The Week: From Pete Doherty forgets, though Halliwells’ exits via Norton’s recovery to Tony Blair
A smattering of legal in’s and out’s from this week…
On Wedensday, Pete Doherty was fined for walking into court with heroin in his pocket. The forgetful rock musician, escaped with just a fine despite ‘’stupidly” walking into a court with 13 wraps of heroin in his pocket.
Telegraph: Doherty was handed a £750 fine with £85 costs today after a judge heard he was not ”mickey taking” and had simply forgotten the drugs were in one of his many coats.
Sorry officer, I forgot the 12 pints of lager I had for supper before driving my car into this hedge. A fine sans points ‘ll do, no?
Also from the Telegraph this week – “A killer can’t be deported because he might kill again“. Despite the Home Office wishing to deport him, the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal ruled that a paranoid schizophrenic Iraqi immigrant who stabbed two doctors to death has the right to stay in Britain because he would pose a danger to the public in his homeland.
The Gazette reported that in a survey of more than 100 estate agents carried out by conveyancer and home information pack provider The Partnership, only 3% said the payment of a referral fee was the most important factor when it came to advising clients on their choice of conveyancer. The vast majority – 78% – said a referral fee was the least important consideration. Yes, and the vast majority will also tell you that this dilapidated old shed is worth £500k and is well within your budget.
A Cambridge student Brittany who is studying social and political sciences (there’s your spurious legal connection), has stripped off in a pub for the controversial college rag The Tab causing academic staff to get all hot and bothered. The obliging Daily Mail ran the story (with pictures of course).
Halliwells is having a miserable start to the year. Legal Week reported yeserday that the firm’s last equity partner in London is leaving under a cloud. Partner David Grant has instructed Herbert Smith for advice relating to a potential dispute with the firm over exit terms. In the meantime, the firm is also seeking a multimillion-pound loan in order to pay its January 2010 tax bill.
In brighter firm news, today marks the end of Norton Rose’s flexible working scheme introduced in May last year. The 12 month scheme which was introduced in a bid to avoid redundancies – 100 jobs were saved according to firm estimates – has been brought to an end early due to increased work flow. A fine strategy by management just handed its PR and HR departments a peach going forward.
And finally Tony Blair, former barrister, former PM and husband of Britain’s best known barrister. Will the New Labour maestro buckle under the immense pressure of interrogation by the great and the good of the Chilcot panel. Or with a flash of his smile and his finely honed legal skill, will he parry their advances and have them dancing to his tune in no time? Hmmm. See for yourself at one of the following:
Channel 4’s Iraq Inquiry blogger on Twitter
The Daily Telegraph’s live blog
Iraq Inquiry Digest’s live blog
Sky News Glen Oglaza’s Twitter feed
