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Coroners and Justice Bill

My Lords, your Lordships will recall that I spoke at considerable length in Committee on this issue, and I have attempted, having regard to the time, to limit what I said tonight. However, it is unfortunate that the amendments in the Bill ensure that convictions in an EU member state can be used to take into account evidence of the bad character of the defendant, to impose a presumption against bail, to consider whether a person should be tried summarily or indicted, and in sentencing. It is going a little far to say that the judges must automatically take at face value any conviction in any EU state, regardless of any arguments that may be advanced about the quality of the defendant’s trial at the time. At this hour, however, I do not propose to divide the House. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 92A withdrawn. Amendments 92B to 92G not moved. Amendments 93 to 95 Moved by