Episode description

Joint Enterprise is the law by which a group of people can be convicted with the same offence and earlier this year the Supreme Court ruled that Joint Enterprise law had been misinterpreted for 30 years.

This gave campaigners significant hope as they say Joint Enterprise is an unjust law, especially when applied to murder convictions because all defendants face the same mandatory life sentence even if they were periphery players.

But these hopes were dashed when the Court of Appeal announced that it was not going to permit thirteen Joint Enterprise murder convictions to be reviewed. Joshua Rozenberg explores why the court came to this decision - and asks if the perceived unfairness over Joint Enterprise points to bigger problems with the law of homicide.

Also on the programme: Soon-to-be President Donald Trump has said one of his most important tasks will be to appoint a judge to the US Supreme Court, which he has said would be pro-life and pro-gun ownership. To what extent can he be sure that the Supreme Justices will do his bidding?

And after 500 years, the trial of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark will be heard in London in a mock trial featuring real QCs, and a real judge. Law in Action hears how the prosecution and defence are going to state their case.

CONTRIBUTORS

Gloria Morrison, campaign co-ordinator for JENGBA (Joint Enterprise, Not Guilty by Association)

Alison Levitt QC

Bob Neill MP, chair of the Justice Select Committee

James Zirin, lawyer and author of Supremely Partisan

Ian Winter QC

Ruth Brock, chief executive of the Shakespeare Schools Festival

Shaheed Fatima QC

Lady Justice Hallett

PRODUCERS: Matt Bardo & Richard Fenton-Smith EDITOR: Penny Murphy.