.... To set out the relevant details: a female Muslim defendant accused of intimidating a witness, and therefore brought to trial at the Crown Court, had argued (via lawyers) that her "human rights" would be violated if she were disallowed from standing in the witness box wearing a veil (niqab) from which only her eyes were visible through a narrow slit.
At Blackfriars Crown Court in London, the presiding judge said: "The ability of the jury to see the defendant for the purposes of evaluating her evidence is crucial." But he did not "doubt the sincerity of her belief" not to be seen by a man in public. The upshot? She will be shielded from public and media view but must be seen by the lawyers, the judge and jury while she is giving testimony. [The Commentator, 16 September] Read more
