Agency Calls for Adjournment
Latest from Cambridge Magistrates':
Mantas Pronckus, Lithuanian, arrested for shoplifting last Wed - remanded due to lack of interpreter till today. PLEASE NOTE: ALS have asked for the case to be adjourned for 2 weeks last Wed so that they could provide an interpreter. The length of the adjournment was not suggested by the courts but REQUESTED by ALS!
The hearing itself lasted almost half an hour - Mr Pronckus does not speak a word of English. The whole hearing concentrated on the fact that if he were to remain on remand in custody, his human rights would be breached. The magistrates said: 'We do not feel that it would be proportionate under these circumstances to keep the defendant on remand in custody. The bench finds itself in great difficulty today. Any action under the Human Rights' Act must be proportionate. And 7 days in Peterborough prison is quite enough. The powers that be must get negotiating.'
The Legal adviser explained that there are interpreters that are prepared to help courts but they live so far away that asking them to attend simply does not make any financial sense.
The case has now been adjourned until 8th March. The magistrates have asked both the CPS and the defence solicitor to complain to the MOJ. They understand that there is an 'industrial action in essence' going on.
