Ruth Ellis granted conditional pardon

Ruth Ellis was the last woman to be executed in England for murder and has now been granted a conditional pardon in light of evidence that she was a victim of domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour - Ruth Ellis, last woman hanged in UK, granted posthumous conditional pardon | UK criminal justice | The Guardian

Back in 2020, this blog looked at the case - Law and Lawyers: Looking back - Ruth Ellis.

The case is a reminder of the rigour of the common law of murder as it was back in 1955.. 

The grant of a pardon is an exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy - ​The royal prerogative of mercy | Feature | Law Gazette

Lawrence and others -v- Associated Newspapers Limited - comprehensive defeat for the claimants

Seven claimants, including Prince Harry (Duke of Sussex) brought claims against Associated Newspapers Ltd (publishers of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sundays and MailOnline. The case consumed a considerable amount of High Court time including a 46-day trial which took place between 19 January and 31 March 2026.

The claimants alleged misuse of private information and, in one case, breach of confidence arising from unlawful information gathering (UIG).

Misuse of private information is a tort (civil wrong) and is discussed in an article

Parliamentary Standards - investigations

Nigel Farage - leader of the Reform UK party has announced that he will resign as MP for Clacton and will contest the necessary by-election.

Mr Farage was under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over financial matters.

How an MP "resigns" is described in this previous post - Law and Lawyers: MP appointed to the "Chiltern Hundreds" - (Stoke, Desborough and Burnham).

What happens to the investigation is covered by the "Procedural Protocol" 

Mohindru KC - High Court judgment

Anurag Mohindru is a King's Counsel (KC) - one of those lawyers (usually, but not always, barristers) granted that pre-eminent status by the Crown. They are appointed via a process set out at King's Counsel Appointments | Excellence in Advocacy

Mohindru was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2004 and was appointed KC ("took silk") in 2020. 

Mohindru appealed to the High Court against an order of a disciplinary tribunal of the Bar Standards Board (BSB) that he be disbarred. The BSB decision was in October 2025 and the conduct in question took place over a short period of time in February 2013.

The High Court judgment is at - Mohindru v The Bar Standards Board [2026] EWHC 1604 (Admin) (30 June 2026).

The details of the conduct

Calls for deportation of Shabir Ahmed - what legal hurdles may apply?

A report by the BBC (2 July 2026) tells us that - 'The ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang that targeted girls as young as 12 has been released from prison.

Shabir Ahmed, 73, who was known as 'Daddy' by his victims, was jailed for 22 years in August 2012 for a raft of child sexual offences including rape.

This week his victims were told he would be released on licence and despite earlier promises, could not be deported due to a 55-year-old law.

But Sir Keir Starmer has now asked the home secretary to review the case amid calls for the law to be changed to allow him to removed from the country.'

Rochdale grooming gang leader released from prison - BBC News

All right-thinking people

The King and X Y Z (References under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988) [2026] EWCA Crim (845)

A Previous post looked at the the sentencing of young offenders for very serious offences -  Law and Lawyers: Youth Justice and sentencing for very serious offences. 

The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) has given judgment in X, Y and Z - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary [2026] EWCA Crim (845) - Lady Carr LCJ, Edis LJ, Norton J. 

The case concerned three offenders, X, Y and Z who were convicted (after a 29 day trial in the Crown Court) of rape and other sexual offending committed at Fordingbridge, Hampshire against two separate complainants, C1 and C2 on two separate occasions. 

The first incident was on 26 November 2024 (involving all three offenders) and the second incident on 17 January 2025 (involving X and Y only).

Each

Recent announcements: Murder sentencing, Law Commission, Asylum

1) Sentencing for murder: 

The Secretary of State for Justice (David Lammy MP) has announced his intention to alter sentencing for murder ….

Justice for victims as domestic killers to face longer behind bars - GOV.UK

‘Heinous offenders who kill their partner, or ex, could face an additional 10 years in prison, under a change announced today by the Deputy Prime Minister.