“Open justice” persuades law lord to name boy rapist

The case for open justice has persuaded a law lord to uphold a
ruling to name a boy rapist.

Yesterday Lord Justice Kennedy rejected an application to keep the
identity of Dwayne Best, who committed rape when he was 15,
anonymous.

After sentencing in the original case, Judge Moss QC said an order,
which prevented Best’s identification, should be lifted.

Best’s lawyers argued in a High Court appeal that naming him
would put his life at risk, cause “very considerable risk” to his
rehabilitation and affect his family.

But Lord Kennedy said he was entirely satisfied that Judge Moss’s
intention had not been “to name and shame” but was acting in the
interests of open justice.

Sixteen-year-old Best, from East Dulwich, south-east London, had
admitted raping a 28-year-old teacher, who cannot be named.