The criminal trial of Scottish gamekeeper George Mutch is set to re-start today.
Mutch, of Kildrummy Estate, Aberdeenshire, is accused of a series of offences relating to the capture and subsequent killing or injuring of a number of raptors, alleged to have taken place in August 2012. He has denied the charges.
This case has dragged on for over two years. Eventually a trial date was set for October 2014 but it was quickly adjourned after the defence QC argued that the presiding Sheriff shouldn’t hear the case as she was a member of the RSPB (see here).
Presumably there’ll be a different sheriff in court today; one with absolutely no connection whatsoever with game-shooting, eh?
Raptor Persecution UK 
Criminal justice system is a farce. This interminable case continues to drag on like Kafka’s “The Trial”.
I once was told by a lawyer justice had nothing to do with the law ?
[Ed: sorry Douglas, we can’t publish this comment as it might prejudice the outcome of this trial]
Not a foregone conclusion then :) Fingers crossed.
Will be interesting to see what “Hobbies” the new Sheriff has and [Ed: rest of this comment can’t be published while the trial is on-going].
I assume if its a case now where RSPB membership makes on unfit to work on such trials, then surely judges etc. with shooting interests should also step aside in such cases
Be interesting to see whether the new sheriff is willing to lose face over this ” trial ” and continue this farce, or will he/she be prepared to stand up and be counted, we’ll see ???
Does this mean that a judge who believes in law and order and the prosecution and sentencing of criminals is biased and unsuitable to oversee cases where a criminal act is being tried.