Closing argument

Lammy defends proposal to limit use of jury trials

- BY DAVE BURKE

DAVID Lammy last night defended plans to scrap jury trials for thousands of court cases every year.

The Deputy PM faces a backlash over the shakeup of the creaking criminal justice system.

At the weekend Labour MP Karl Turner threatened to step down and force a by-election if the measures are not withdrawn.

And senior lawyers have voiced their opposition to the move, which would see judges deliver verdicts in cases where a defendant faces a sentence of three years or less.