NLJ this week: Righting Libor wrongs

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was criticised for its vague case and flawed expert evidence, while the Court of Appeal’s ‘cheapest rate theory’ was dismissed as a ‘blind alley’.

Stern and Fletcher, defence counsel in related trials, argue that the convictions were scapegoating tactics post-financial crisis, with no actual victims presented. They call for a public inquiry into broader justice failings and warn against proposals to remove jury trials in complex fraud cases.

The judgment is hailed as a vital reaffirmation of the jury’s role and a cautionary tale about conflating law with fact-finding.