Judge Peter Murphy said he would not allow the 21-year-old defendant to stand trial in the veil, which only revealed her eyes, because her identity had not been confirmed.
He said the principle of open justice overrode the woman's religious beliefs and warned that a different person could go into the dock pretending to be here if she did not show her face.
But the woman, from Hackney, east London, told Blackfriars Crown Court she could not remove the veil in front of any men because of her religion.
Judge Murphy told her: “It is necessary for this court to be satisfied that they can recognise the defendant.
“While I obviously respect the right to dress in any way she wishes, certainly while outside the court, the interests of justice are paramount.
“I can't, as a circuit judge, accept a plea from a person whose identity I am unable to ascertain.”
He added: “It would be easy for someone on a later occasion to appear and claim to be the defendant.
“The court would have no way to check on that.”
The defendant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is facing an allegation of intimidating a witness in Finsbury Park, north London, in June.
Her barrister, Claire Burtwistle, told the court she was not prepared to lower her veil at all while men were in the room.
“In front of women, it is not an issue”, she said. “It is simply men that she will not allow to see her face.”
Bravo,Mr.Murphy,Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Full story
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/10261550/Muslim-woman-must-remove-burka-in-court-judge-insists.htmlFull story
0 comments:
Post a Comment