Widow
sues over Iraq ambush death - 20 July
A widow whose security consultant husband died during an ambush in
Iraq has begun a High Court claim for about £300 000 compensation
over his death. Julian Davies was fatally wounded when he travelled
on a three-vehicle convoy in Mosul, northern Iraq in 2004. Lawyers
acting for his widow Joanne, of Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, told the
hearing in London, Global Strategies Group failed in its "duty
of care". Global Strategies Group deny all liability for Mr
Davies's death. Nicholas
Braslavsky QC told Mr Justice Burnett that the two Global Strategies
companies - one in Hong Kong and one in the UK - had failed to heed
the concerns of senior staff about the safety of employees in Iraq. -
BBC News
website
Bomb
blast engineer loses action - 24 July
An engineer who was seriously injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq has
lost his damages action against his former employers and the
Ministry of Defence. Graham Hopps was hurt when his Land Rover was
hit by a blast in Basra. Mr Hopps claimed the MoD left him
inadequately protected in a civilian vehicle. At the High Court, the
judge said he had to reject the claim as it was not clear Mr Hopps
would have been better protected in an armoured vehicle. Mr Hopps
blamed his former employer, Mott MacDonald Ltd and the MoD for not
supplying armoured vehicles to transport men working on contracts in
Iraq. - BBC News website
Kidnapper
Justice Ngema gets eight years for locking nurse in car boot
- 21 July
Magdeline Makola from Livingston, West Lothian, was found dehydrated
and with hypothermia following her ordeal last year, when she was
left in the boot in sub-zero temperatures wearing only her night
clothes. Justice Ngema, an illegal immigrant from South Africa, used
his victim's bank cards to fund a Christmas shopping spree and to
drink champagne and cocktails with friends while his victim lay in
the boot of her car. The 35-year-old was sentenced today to a
minimum of eight years in jail as well as a lifelong restriction
order which could lead to him being imprisoned for longer if parole
officers believe he continues to pose a risk. - Times
Online website
Change
would help to expose unjust rulings - 21 July
The move towards creating Britain's first formal network of Sharia
courts is a logical next step after the encouragement given to
Islamic tribunals by leading legal and church leaders. In the past
18 months the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Chief Justice
have both given their blessing to the settling of some disputes
under Sharia. A new network would formalise Sharia tribunals,
lending them a new authority and credibility, as well as a more
public face. - Times
Online website
Non-Muslims
turning to Sharia courts to resolve civil disputes - 21
July
Increasing numbers of non-Muslims are turning to Sharia courts to
resolve commercial disputes and other civil matters, The
Times has learnt. The Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (MAT)
said that 5 per cent of its cases involved non-Muslims who were
using the courts because they were less cumbersome and more informal
than the English legal system. Freed Chedie, a spokesman for Sheikh
Faiz-ul-Aqtab Siqqiqi, a barrister who set up the tribunal, said :
"We put weight on oral agreements, whereas the British courts
do not". - Times
Online website