Historic judgement: A judge has ordered a Muslim defendant (pictured arriving at Blackfriars Crown Court yesterday) to take off her full-face veil to give evidence A judge yesterday ordered a Muslim defendant to take off her full-face veil to give evidence. But, in a case that made legal history, he said the woman could retain the veil for all other parts of her trial. Judge Peter Murphy said the court should recognise ‘freedom of religious expression’. But he believed allowing her to retain the niqab during her evidence, as she wanted, would ‘drive a coach and horses through justice administered in England and Wales for centuries’. Judge Murphy recognised the strong feelings on both sides of the argument and urged MPs to legislate on the controversial issue, which had become the ‘elephant in the courtroom’. He said it was crucial for the jury to see the woman’s face so they could assess her demeanour and expression. But he also made a series of extraordinary concessions ...
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