Straddling Two Worlds: Reflections of a Retired Criminal Cases Review Commissioner

In this paper, I draw upon the 'systems theory' approach to miscarriages of justice (adopted by Nobles and Schiff) to reflect upon my experience as a member of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission. I demonstrate how the Commission manages the tensions between the rather different 'legal' and 'lay' worlds which it inhabits. More particularly, I argue that the Commission, while heavily constrained by the law and a legal world view, is more independent of the legal 'system' than some commentators would suggest. I substantiate my arguments through describing some of the debates that took place within the Scottish Commission and analysing in depth the judgements of the Scottish appeal court in some of the cases referred to it by the Commission. Much of what I say is applicable in varying degrees to the English Commission and to the current debate in England as to what constitutes a 'miscarriage of justice'.     

Resisting the Long Arm of Criminal Antitrust Laws: Norris v The United States

This note analyses the judgment of the House of Lords in the case Norris v USA , and argues that its ruling on whether mere price-fixing can amount to a common law conspiracy to defraud will have a significant effect on both US and UK criminal anti-cartel enforcement. In particular, the potential negative impact of the judgment on the future viability of the UK Cartel Offence is highlighted.     

Eyewitness Memory of a Supermarket Robbery: A Case Study of Accuracy and Confidence After 3 Months

In this case study, 14 witnesses of an armed robbery were interviewed after 3 months. Security camera recordings were used to assess memory accuracy. Of all information that could be remembered about 84% was correct. Although accurately recalled information had a higher confidence level on average than inaccurately recalled information, the mean accuracy–confidence correlation was rather modest (0.38). These findings indicate that confidence is not a reliable predictor of accuracy. A higher level of self-reported, post-event thinking about the incident was associated with higher confidence levels, while a higher level of self-reported emotional impact was associated with greater accuracy. A potential source of (mis)information, a reconstruction of the robbery broadcasted on TV, did not alter the original memories of the witnesses.     

The pluralization of policing and the rise of private policing in China

Policing in China has undergone tremendous change during the economic transformation of the past three decades. This paper describes the plural policing bodies that have existed during pre- and post-reform periods in China. In the pre-reform period the policing bodies were generally public in nature with the public security police playing an important role in providing professional guidance to the other policing bodies. In the post-reform period, there has been a transition from a monopoly of public policing to an integration of public/private policing, with the public security police still playing a leading role in the policing network. Apart from the emergence of private policing (the security service industry), there is also a trend towards privatizing some previously public policing bodies in line with the movement toward strengthening the rule of law and towards privatization in general.     

Zur Abgrenzung von Leihe und Miete (Anerkennungszins)

Für die Beurteilung, ob Gebrauchskosten iSd § 981 ABGB vorliegen oder aber ein Entgelt für eine Gebrauchsüberlassung vereinbart wurde, ist ausschlie?lich darauf abzustellen ist, ob die übernommenen Kosten ihrer Natur nach aus dem Gebrauch resultieren. Die übernahme jener Kosten, die den Liegenschaftseigentümer unabh?ngig vom Gebrauch treffen, stellt hingegen Entgelt dar. Ein entgeltliches Rechtsverh?ltnis liegt dann nicht vor, wenn für die überlassene Sache ein "Anerkennungszins" geleistet wird, der gegenüber dem Nutzungswert nicht ins Gewicht f?llt, wobei eine Grenze von etwa 10% des ortsüblichen Entgelts angenommen wird. Die Frage, ob in diesem Sinne Entgeltlichkeit oder Unentgeltlichkeit vorliegt, ist nach den Verh?ltnissen bei Vertragsabschluss zu beurteilen; zu prüfen ist dabei, welcher ortsübliche Hauptmietzins zuzüglich Betriebskosten für das Objekt damals erzielbar gewesen w?re.     

Ende des Ausbildungsmonopols der Anwaltskammer

Rechtsanwaltsanwärter haben in Österreich an Ausbildungsveranstaltungen im Ausmaß von mindestens 42 Halbtagen teilzunehmen. Diese Ausbildungsveranstaltungen werden von der Anwaltsakademie (AWAK) angeboten. Der Verwaltungsgerichtshof hat jüngst entschieden, dass die Anwaltskammer jedoch auch andere absolvierte Ausbildungsveranstaltungen wie beispielsweise im Rahmen eines postgradualen Studiums anstelle der Seminare der Anwaltsakademie anerkennen muss, wenn diese gleichwertig mit den von der AWAK angebotenen Seminaren sind.     

The Kosovo Case and International Law: Looking for Applicable Theories

The Kosovo problem represents a formidable occasion to re-examinesome basic tenets of international law, such as the so-calledright to humanitarian intervention, the right to self-determinationand the right of recognition. It will be shown here, however,that many proposals suggesting the need of a radical departurefrom traditional positions are ill-conceived. Nonetheless, itis the uniqueness of many facets of the Kosovo problem thatrequires the analyst to look for new solution. It is now upto the International Court of Justice to show the way in a politicallymuch loaded case. In particular, the right to self-determinationshould find a re-interpretation corresponding to the needs ofthe twenty-first century.     

Australian climate policy and the Asia Pacific partnership on clean development and climate (APP). From Howard to Rudd: continuity or change?

This article explains, first, why Australia’s government under John Howard, together with the United States Bush administration initiated the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP) and, second, why the succeeding Rudd government continued to support this initiative. Climate policy under the conservative Howard government (1995–2007) in Australia was largely dictated by fossil fuel and mineral sector interests, and reflected a close alliance with the Bush administration. The Howard government shunned the Kyoto Protocol, refused to set national binding greenhouse gas reduction targets and preferred voluntary cooperative measures with industry. The APP was part of the Howard government’s strategy to demonstrate some policy movement on climate change while postponing serious action. Climate change was a key issue in the election of the Rudd Labor government in Australia in December 2007. The Rudd government quickly ratified Kyoto, adopted emission reduction targets, and moved to introduce emissions trading. The Rudd government’s decision to continue involvement with the APP, albeit with diminished funding, was a pragmatic one. The APP was supported by industry and provided bridges to China and India—both key countries in the post-2012 UNFCCC negotiations. Finally, in order to assess the long-term outlook of the APP, the article provides a preliminary assessment as to whether the APP advances technology transfer.

Fatal case of Rapunzel syndrome in neglected child

Rapunzel syndrome is very extreme form of trichobezoar formation where the tail of the trichobezoar extends from the stomach into the small intestine. Death resulting from this condition is rare and is usually associated with gastric or intestinal perforation. We report a fatal case of Rapunzel syndrome in a 3 years and 10 months old girl. Review of the literature indicates that this case involves the youngest child to have died from this syndrome. Furthermore, this case is unique due to the clear association with the parent's neglect with failure to provide the child with adequate health care.     

Gait analysis in forensic medicine*

Recordings from video surveillance systems are used as evidence from crime scenes. It would be useful to perform comparisons between disguised perpetrators and suspects based on their gait. We applied functional anatomical and biomechanical knowledge to analyze the gait of perpetrators, as recorded on surveillance video. Using a structured checklist, which addresses the single body segments during gait, we were able to give a statement concerning the gait patterns. Characteristic parameters were, e.g., varus instability in the knee at heel strike, and larger lateral flexion of the spinal column to one side than the other. Based on these characteristic features, we are able to state with reasonable certainty whether the suspect could be the perpetrator, but it is not possible to identify the perpetrator positively. Nevertheless, we have been involved in several cases where the court has found that this type of gait analysis was a valuable tool.