Lammy to reveal plans for more juryless trials

MAJOR reforms to be announced this week will "put victims front and centre" of the criminal justice system, Justice Secretary David Lammy has said, amid reports that jury trials could be restricted to rape, murder and manslaughter.

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The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the plans to speed up justice and cut the record-high crown courts backlog will save victims "from years of torment and delay".

The department did not give details of the shakeup, which Mr Lammy is expected to set out in the coming days.

Mr Lammy wrote in a memo to officials this month, seen by The Times newspaper, that juries will pass judgement only on rape, murder, manslaughter and public interest cases, while other lower offences will be heard by a judge.