Report comment

Firstly, who says there will be a retrial? The judge very deliberately (and rightly) refrained from making any comment until AFTER the trial. Presumably the defendant was aware that his advocate had long hair, was a little eccentric and so on and yet chose him to represent him - the jury made the decision, not the judge. There's nothing I have read which indicates that the trial was prejudiced. Secondly, what happened to that famous judicial remark of 'I can't hear you, Mr X' when an advocate appeared improperly dressed - usually leading to the hapless junior speaking more loudly only to get the same response. Either Mr Blacker was correctly dressed for court or he was not. If the judge felt able to conduct the trial then why raise it at all?