The first ever televised Crown Court sentencing is set to make legal history on Thursday. Judge Sarah Munro QC is expected to be filmed as passes sentence on Ben Oliver for the manslaughter of his grandfather.
The footage will be broadcast on news channels such as Sky News, BBC and ITN. It is part of a bid to enhance the principle of 'open justice', allowing the public to see judges explain the reasoning behind sentencing decisions.
To protect the privacy of victims, witnesses and jury members, only the judge will be filmed. Cameras already operate in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, but the law was changed in 2020 to allow cameras into the Crown Court - however, the pandemic delayed putting the new rules into action.
