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From the judgment:

"All those matters, potentially give rise to a line of defence which would better be explored by a solicitor assisting her. Knowing that, it is with great reservation that I have allowed the case to proceed today on the basis that it would be impossible to keep adjourning this case."

Why is it impossible? Keep adjourning the case, and keep adjourning every single case where a solicitor is needed but legal aid is horlicksed up, until there are a thousand cases ten years old and the entire legal aid system comes up before a judge with the balls and influence to declare it a breach of human rights.

The DJ was put in an impossible position, not least because his findings of fact demonstrate that Ms Baker's defence looked hopeless, but there is a wider issue here about the proper disposition of ALL trials. Muddling through on an easy(ish) case might end up with muddling through on a difficult one...