Judges wrong to bail defendants due to barristers’ strike, high court rules

Refusal to extend period defendants can be kept in jail awaiting trial in cases delayed by protest deemed error of judgment

Judges were wrong to refuse to extend the period defendants could be kept in jail awaiting trial in cases delayed by the criminal barristers' strike, the high court has ruled.

It accepted a challenge by the director of public prosecutions (DPP) to decisions made by judges at Bristol and Manchester crown courts not to extend the period that three men in two cases could be held on remand beyond the six-month limit.