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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent

Excessive use of charging powers observed in joint enterprise trials, say researchers

A small group stands outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London
Researchers followed 17 attempted murder and murder joint enterprise trials at the Old Bailey in central London. Photograph: Frank Augstein/AP

Researchers who spent six months observing joint enterprise trials have found excessive use of powers, with individuals charged with murder despite only tenuous connections with the crime.

The findings from the miscarriage of justice charity Appeal add to concerns surrounding the doctrine, which allows defendants in England and Wales to be convicted of crimes they did not physically carry out if they are deemed to have encouraged or assisted the perpetrator.

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