NO-JURY TRIALS PLAN SCRAPPED

Lawyers hail Nats' 'humiliating' climbdown

- NEIL POORAN

THE Scottish Government's decision to drop its proposed juryless rape trials has been branded a "humiliating U-turn" by the body representing defence lawyers.

The plans for a pilot scheme were opposed by the majority of the legal profession, with the Law Society saying they undermined a "basic right" to trial by jury for serious crimes.

Under the proposal, a single judge, or possibly a panel, would have provided a verdict in certain rape cases, rather than a jury.

Yesterday, Justice Secretary Angela Constance announced the plans will not go ahead, saying it is clear they do not have cross-party support.