181 oldest 'very old' rape cases in England & Wales to go to trial by July end amid backlog, due to pandemic effects.
Judges in England and Wales plan to bring 181 of the oldest 'very old' rape cases to trial by the end of July amid a backlog of cases. These old cases, involving both adult and child alleged victims as well as some retrials, have been at crown courts since 2021. Lord Justice Edis, the senior presiding judge for England and Wales, said the current situation is the result of shocks caused by the pandemic. The judges plan to work with barristers and bodies including the Crown Prosecution Service and HM Courts and Tribunals Service to expedite the trials.
March 06, 2024
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