Sir: I am surprised that more people have not written
to you on the proposed reform of the legal profession. I am closely associ- ated with a man who was charged with the murder of his wife less than 20 years ago. The first barrister due to defend him had to withdraw three days before the case was due to open because his present case was going to overrun. The same thing hap- pened to the second barrister. The third barrister got the job the day before the trial was due but did not see the defendant until the case opened in court. He never spoke
to the defendant. In court, what little he had to say was of no help to the defendant.
The accused fortunately was a man of no mean ability who managed to persuade the jury that he was not guilty as charged. The jury found him guilty of manslaughter. The judge gave him three years. He was freed after one year, all but six weeks spent in an open prison. Life is the sentence for murder. I emphasise that at no time did a barrister discuss the matter with the ac- cused.
3 Milford Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
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