Bill to close murder loophole hits snag

Plans to close the loophole that allows parents to remain silent in
court on questions relating to the death of their children could
infringe human rights, according to a parliamentary report.

The measure is one of several in the Domestic Violence, Crime and
Victims Bill that the Joint Committee on Human Rights has called
into question.

If the bill is passed, juries will be allowed to make “inferences”
about a person’s guilt from their refusal to answer a question. But
the committee fears that the measure could be incompatible with the
right to a fair hearing under the European Convention on Human
Rights.

– Report from www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt/jtrights.htm