David Lammy is expected to back down from removing jury trials in England and Wales for all but the most serious charges of murder, manslaughter and rape, but trial by jury will still be radically reduced for more minor offences.
The UK government’s justice secretary said there had been “cabinet feedback” on the plans and suggested on Tuesday he was minded to follow the recommendation in a report by the retired senior judge Sir Brian Leveson that “either-way” offences likely to result in a sentence of three years or less should be dealt with by the magistrates courts or a new judge-only division.
