Madness in the Magistracy

A magistrate is under investigation after refusing to deal with a defendant wearing a full Muslim veil. Ian Murray walked out of a case at Manchester Magistrates' Court last week because Zoobia Hussain, 32, of Crumpsall, was covered by a niqab. His mistake, apparently, was not to say why he walked out. So the powers-that-be (the Judiciary of England and Wales) are "investigating".

The Magistrates' Advisory Committee in Manchester is working with the magistrate to investigate the incident, a Judiciary spokesman said. "Once that is done, a decision will be taken as to whether a full investigation will take place. Such an investigation would be conducted by an appeal panel of local magistrates." Here again, common sense has left them and their brains are bereft. What do they want to know that they don't already know. My guess is that, as Mr. Murray is a taxi driver, their pernicious minds have decided he must go through a hearing of some sort to find out what his political beliefs are, etc, etc.

I'd like to put the Judiciary spokesman up as a contestant on To Tell The Truth! Three people, dressed from head to toe, all claiming to be Zoobia Hussain. "My name is Zoobia Hussain and I have been accused of criminal damage." Let the smartarse pick which one he thinks it is!

In all the ramblings from the Judiciary no mention of the stupidity of somebody turning up in a form of dress that makes identification impossible. The woman is accused of criminal damage for heaven's sake. Why on earth should she be allowed in court dressed like that in the first place. How can anybody brought in as a witness say categorically that she was the culprit? "I think it's her, your honour, I sort of recognise the shoes, but I couldn't be certain".

It's getting crazier by the minute!

Posted in: Judiciary,Magistrates,Muslim veil