8.9 C
London
HomeLegal InsightHillsborough, Jill Dando, and Stephen Lawrence: Top barrister Michael Mansfield on his...

Hillsborough, Jill Dando, and Stephen Lawrence: Top barrister Michael Mansfield on his legal career

Helen Greaney
By Helen Greaney

September 2022: Famous barrister Michael Mansfield KC – dubbed the “king of human rights work” – has shared insight on some of his most high-profile cases in an explosive interview with Viva!.   

Speaking to Tony Wardle on the Viva! Vegan Podcast, Mansfield discusses a number of cases that will be flashbulb memories for much of the British public, including the death of Lady Diana, the Hillsborough tragedy and the murder of journalist, Jill Dando. Mansfield worked on each of these legal cases and more during his monumental legal career which has spanned decades. 

Barry George’s wrongful conviction for Jill Dando’s murder 

Mansfield represented Barry George when he was wrongfully convicted of the murder of BBC presenter Jill Dando – a case that dominated the front pages of newspapers.  

When asked in the podcast about how it feels when someone you’ve represented gets sent down, Mansfield replied: “Dreadful, because you’d be incredibly arrogant to think it had nothing to do with you. My first question would be “what had I done? What didn’t I do?”. On this occasion I remember it because I was angry, but you have to contain yourself. I thought the only way I have of dissipating the contained anger is something physical. So I walked home, pounding the streets all the way. […] I remember the walk because every pace I was going back over and over [the case]. I have to have a facility to absorb and accommodate a case that’s gone so badly wrong.” 

This conviction was later judged unsafe by the Court of Appeal and quashed in 2007. After a retrial, he was acquitted on 1 August 2008. 

The Stephen Lawrence inquiry: is the Met still racist? 

Most Brits will remember the Stephen Lawrence murder and the subsequent inquiry that kickstarted a chain reaction leading to constitutional reform. In the podcast, Tony Wardle asks Mansfield: “Are the Met Police still institutionally racist?” 

“Yes,” Mansfield responds immediately. “In that enquiry, we began not believing that the high court judge would come to the conclusion that the Met is racist. But we saw how he slowly came to the realistion that this whole enquiry had been infected by institutional racism.  

“It was only this year that police officers have been circulating between themselves some pretty disgusting language. So quite rightly, Sadiq Khan said that Cressida Dick had to go.” Mansfield then goes on to explain he believes institutional corruption is also embedded in the Met. 

Hillsborough: the moment families embraced with joy in court 

Few could forget the shocking incident that saw almost a hundred people crushed to death at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield. Mansfield represented many of the families during the lengthy legal inquests that followed, and in the Viva! Vegan Podcast he recalls the moment the decision was revealed. “At the end of Hillsborough, after years of court hearings, when the jury revealed their findings they found in favour of the families on every single issue that we put before them. […] There was an incredible silence as they read it all out. You could hear people taking a deep breath. And then something happened I’d never seen in court. The families all stood up in court and embraced each other. And it was quite a remarkable feeling that the people had actually stretched across this court and had found justice at last. I sat there stricken with amazement, wonder and joy.” 

Factory farming and the introduction of ecocide 

As well as being an inspirational human rights lawyer, Mansfield also has an active interest in the climate and animal welfare. He is a patron of the UK’s leading vegan charity Viva! – who create the Viva! Vegan podcast. 

Speaking about factory farming in the podcast, Mansfield states: “I feel very strongly that the industrial farming we have on our fields is appalling. Viva! Have done some amazing undercover work. [This is an] issue I feel strongly about, and I’ve got a contribution still to make.”  

Mansfield also spoke at the launch of one of Viva!’s campaigns Vegan Now about wanting to make ecocide an offence. In the podcast he reaffirms his stance on this, proclaiming: “There are crimes against humanity. It seems to me, this is one: where states permit the destruction of an environment in lots of different ways.” 

You can listen to the full podcast here, or via all good podcast platforms. 

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Previous article
What are the Legal Requirements when Starting a Private Therapy Practice?
Next article
Jobs saved as West Yorkshire double glazing business bought out of administration

latest articles

explore more

172 COMMENTS

  15. пин ап зеркало [url=https://1winci.icu/#]пин ап[/url] пин ап официальный сайт

  20. 1хставка [url=http://1winrussia.online/#]1xbet скачать[/url] 1xbet официальный сайт

  35. п»їlegitimate online pharmacies india [url=https://indianpharm24.pro/#]Pharmacies in India that ship to USA[/url] online pharmacy india

  54. top 10 online pharmacy in india [url=https://indianpharmacyeasy.com/#]indianpharmacyeasy[/url] indian pharmacies safe

  58. anti fungal pills without prescription [url=https://canadiandrugsgate.com/#]canadian pharmacy[/url] drug prices comparison

  61. where can i buy cheap clomid pill [url=http://clomidrexpharm.com/#]cheap clomid[/url] can you get cheap clomid without prescription

  81. medication for ed dysfunction [url=https://canadianpharm1st.com/#]canada pharmacy online[/url] pain meds online without doctor prescription

  91. cost of generic clomid tablets [url=https://clomid.store/#]how to get generic clomid[/url] cost of clomid online

  94. cheap ed meds online [url=https://edpills.men/#]best online ed meds[/url] buy erectile dysfunction treatment

  116. cost of prednisone 5mg tablets [url=http://prednibest.com/#]20mg prednisone[/url] no prescription prednisone canadian pharmacy

  117. can you buy amoxicillin uk [url=http://amoxstar.com/#]Amox Star[/url] amoxicillin over the counter in canada

  120. пинап казино [url=https://gramster.ru/#]gramster[/url] пин ап казино официальный сайт

  165. 日本人のMLB打撃主要部門におけるタイトル獲得は、2004年に首位打者を獲得した当時マリナーズのイチロー以来で、大谷は球団を通じ「MLBでこれまで活躍された偉大な日本人選手たちのことを考えると大変恐縮であり光栄なことです。 9月15日にタイム誌が「世界で最も影響力のある100人」を発表し、野球界で唯一選出された。 4月1日 – 群馬郡高崎町が市制施行し、高崎市誕生。 1907年（明治40年）8月27日 – 東武伊勢崎線川俣駅 – 足利町駅（現：足利市駅）間開業。

  171. でも、多くのヴィーガンは、病気になったら病院に行く。当時は、新たな制度が新たな市場や供給者を生み出すためには、多様な事業者が切磋琢磨することが必要で、それが供給者を拡大するとされていた。今思えば、全く、己は、己の有（も）っていた僅（わず）かばかりの才能を空費して了った訳だ。 ※任意特約（免責額適用特約）を選択すると、免責金額が設定され、診療費が1回あたり2,500円を超えた場合に、その超過分に補償割合を適用した金額が保険金として支払われます。補償割合にかかわらず、年間補償限度額は80万円です。

  172. Great – I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs and related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Nice task.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

LawNews.co.uk provides the latest legal news and analysis from around the world

most viewed

useful links

Copyright © 2022 LawNews.co.uk