Jeremy Bamber and a Free Press: UK Justice Turns Out the Lights

Why has the Prison Service banned the convicted murderer Jeremy Bamber from any contact with the media, whether by letter, email, phone calls or face to face visits? And is such a ban lawful? Bamber was convicted in October 1986 of the cold-blooded murders of his adoptive parents, Neville and June Bamber, his adoptive sister Sheila Caffell and Sheila’s 6 year old twin sons Daniel and Nicholas, making him the UK’s most notorious living mass murderer. Now in the 40th year of his whole life sentence, Bamber has consistently maintained his innocence via a high profile media campaign informed by regular contact with investigative journalists including, most recently, in Heidi Blake’s much lauded podcast series Blood Relatives (https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Lzwf8v7MaQdjijhvxaZhH). And Bamber’s most recent attempt to persuade the Criminal Cases Review Commission to refer his case to the Court of Appeal remains under active consideration some 24 years after his last CCRC reference was rejected by the Court of Appeal ( https://www.casemine.com/judgement/uk/5b46f2152c94e0775e7f20b6) Against this background of regular contact with serious journalists concerned to assist Bamber’s continuing efforts to establish his innocence, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC are joined by the award winning Guardian journalist Simon Hattenstone (@shattenstone) and former Brixton, Swaleside and Belmarsh prison Governor John Podmore (@John_Podmore) to discuss what appears to be a plainly unlawful decision by the prison authorities given the ruling of the House of Lords in the landmark 1999 judgment in R (Simms & O’Brien) v Home Secretary (https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199899/ldjudgmt/jd990708/obrien01.htm). Simon explains his communications with Bamber over the past 20 years and why he believes he may well be a victim of a gross miscarriage of justice. And John gives his bleak assessment of the mindset which may explain the thinking behind this attempt by the authorities suddenly to cut Bamber off from further contact with the media. -- Covering the critical intersections of politics and law in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain's legal and political future.  ​ ​ What happens when politics and law collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain's legal and political system?  Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays.  ​ ​ Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights.  ​ ​ Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law. ​ ​ Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades.  Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape. ​ ​If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you'll love Double Jeopardy.​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices