Speed ruling to affect cases

A HIGH Court decision overturning a district judge’s order compelling the DPP to make wide-ranging discovery of documents relating to the electronic prosecution of a speeding charge is expected to have a knock-on effect on the conduct of similar cases.

District Judge Geoffrey Browne made the discovery order in September 2007 without holding a hearing into whether the 29 categories of documents sought were relevant, despite the DPP’s request for a relevancy hearing.

He also made at least 10 similar orders in other cases, and apparently intended to make such discovery standard in such cases, the DPP complained.