Question for the armchair solicitors (not cycling related, just for fun)

[wiggydiggy]

In Coronation Street Tracey Barlow is on trial for murder, but she's confessed to her mother Deidre she did it.

Now her mum has admitted this to the defence solicitors and has admitted lying under oath (perjury).

Should the defence solicitors be stopping the case at this point, maybe speaking to the judge? I know it's a TV show and not real life but what would actually happen if a defence witness admits to perjuring themselves to the defence during the trial?

 

[Animo]

A few professional duties at play here.
Client is owed a duty of confidentiality, and you're obliged to act in her best interests. You also have a duty not to mislead the court, I.e. you can't advance something you know to be false.

You're certainly not running to the judge as that would breach duties to client.

You don't really know if the mother is telling you the truth re the supposed confession. That said, if the trial is midway through you could be placed in difficulty in respect of the duty not to mislead the court.

In the first instance you'd probably take instructions from client as to what the mother has said.

I suspect a likely outcome is you'd have to tell the judge that you're professionally embarrassed (without saying why) and then withdrawing from the case.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Thanks.

The solicitor has had a go at Tracey for trading on the sympathy for actual domestic abuse victims, as a means to an end of murdering her boyfriend. So I think the the solicitor definitely no longer believes her. But I understand that whilst also still engaged she has to act in her best interests.

But it was the fact her mum Deidre has admitted that's she lying under oath, I would have thought the solicitor would have to take action if only to protect a witness from perjuring themselves.

 

[Animo]

Thanks.

The solicitor has had a go at Tracey for trading on the sympathy for actual domestic abuse victims, as a means to an end of murdering her boyfriend. So I think the the solicitor definitely no longer believes her. But I understand that whilst also still engaged she has to act in her best interests.

But it was the fact her mum Deidre has admitted that's she lying under oath, I would have thought the solicitor would have to take action if only to protect a witness from perjuring themselves.

If the mother is mid-way through her evidence and has suddenly admitted she has been telling lies then you certainly couldn't continue with her evidence.

 

[wiggydiggy]

If the mother is mid-way through her evidence and has suddenly admitted she has been telling lies then you certainly couldn't continue with her evidence.

Yeah that's exactly what happened, Deidre had a panic attack and was taken off the stand. The solicitor went to see her and Deidre confessed she was lying on the stand, but she was allowed back up there.

I know, it's just Corrie, but it bugged me!

 

[Vapin' Joe]

It's years since I watched the Street, but is there a single member of the cast who hasn't either been in jail or been on trial for something?

 

[wiggydiggy]

It's years since I watched the Street, but is there a single member of the cast who hasn't either been in jail or been on trial for something?

Maybe Schmeichel the dog?