Bonomy probe ‘simply papers over the cracks’

A LEX SA LMOND has been told to overrule Justice Secretary Kenny MacA skill and scrap plans to abolish the need for corroboration in criminal trials.

Tories and Lib Dems united against the controversial part of the Criminal Justice Bill going through Parliament.

In light of those fears, Mr MacA skill said former high court judge Lord Bonomy will lead a group looking at what might be needed to prevent miscarriages of justice but he is also committed to scrapping the rule within the Bill.

To r y leader Ruth Davidson, during First Minister’s Questions, said: “What we, as members, are being asked to do is to vote through a Bill, which we know to be deeply flawed, on the grounds that Kenny MacA skill says he’ll sort it later.

“There is an

obvious solution here: leave the scrapping of corroboration out of the Bill, ask Lord Bonomy to report on the whole issue and then let us look at it again. Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie added: “A ppointing Lord Bonomy doesn’t restore justice, it simply papers over the cracks with a veneer of respectability.

“Isn’t it better to work out the fix before you deliberately cause the problem?

“Law-making in reverse is a shoddy way to expect Scotland’s Parliament to act.”

Mr Salmond retorted: “It’s not a quick fix, it’s a distinguished judge who’s looking to make absolutely certain that, as this change is made, appropriate safeguards are there to prevent miscarriages of justice.

There is a “real problem” with corroboration, he added.