The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has appealed Thursday's court decision to halt its case against a group of alleged fraudsters after no barristers were willing to represent them.
The appeal, which was lodged on Friday, is the regulator's only hope to see the five boiler room workers tried - if the appeal is unsuccessful they will walk free. Judge Leonard halted the trial, R v Crawley & Others, after he found the defendants would not receive a fair trial if not represented by a barrister. Barristers refused to take the job under recent 30% pay cuts on complex cases as part of the government's cuts to legal aid. The defendants were represented in their endeavor to get the case thrown out by the Prime Minister's brother Alex Cameron QC, who fought on their beh...
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