Court Report: 08/09/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court
I’m in Court 11 for the sentencing of a Ms ‘ML’. It’s a 0945 sitting before His Honour Judge L.J. West-Knights QC.
The defendant is a no-show but the court hears this might not be her fault. The instructing solicitor wrote her a letter after a previous adjournment but only specified the date and not a time. As Mr Livingstone for the prosecution surmises he is “not too surprised she’s not here”.
In any event the eagle eyed prosecutor comments that in a previous report the defendant was shown as attending an appointment at ”Newham Housing” and he suggests to the court this might have meant she has moved house and therefore not have received any notification of today’s hearing.
The Judge looks through a file and apart from one unreadable document which is described as a “brave attempt at photocopying” no information suggesting Ms ML has been notified can be found.
Mr Livingstone suggests this is not a case that merit the issuance of a bench warrant which would mandate the police bringing Ms ‘ML’ to court, a statement the judge agrees with.
The Judge notes that the defendant has an “overwhelming habit of being late” and briefly retires to allow defence counsel to attempt contact with Ms ‘ML’.
Upon resumption we hear that contact with the ‘offender manager’ has been made and ML last made contact with them in August 2020. Not much to go on but as the judge remarks “All information is power”.
The court decides to adjourn the matter for another 2 weeks and requires the defendant is backed for bail.
Failure to attend will result in a bench warrant being issued and her “spending one night somewhere unpleasant!”.
Mouse in the Court 