Sailesh Mehta provides Legal Expert commentary for LBC on Top Legal Stories of the Day

Sailesh Mehta was interviewed as a legal expert about today’s (1st August, 2024) judicial decision to release the name of a juvenile defendant involved in the Stockport Stabbings case.

The decision is a notable exception to the rule that defendants under 18 are granted anonymity. Sailesh commented:

“There are competing interests between the right of a young person under 18 years of age to remain anonymous and the right of the public to know. In almost every circumstance, Courts usually exercise their discretion in favour of non-disclosure. However, in this case, the Judge took the unusual step of allowing the press to report the defendant’s name. He cited a number of factors including the risk of further public unrest fuelled by a vacuum of misinformation. Further, within a week, the defendant is to turn 18, at which stage his name would be disclosed in any event. It follows that the public interest was better served by disclosure in this unusual case.”

Listen here from 00:34:19 [Global Player LBC]

Sailesh Mehta also appeared on LBC’s Breakfast show – one of the most popular shows on the radio station. He was interviewed by Nick Ferrari following the case of former BBC News reader Huw Edwards who pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children. Sailesh provided listeners with a comprehensive understanding of critical aspects of sentencing in the legal system.

During the interview he commented on:

-sentencing guidelines and custodial sentences
-the implications of an early plea, detailing how it can impact sentencing outcomes
-suspended sentences, their conditions and when they might be applied
-the significance of sex offender registers and the legal requirements for those listed
-community orders, their purpose and how they serve as alternatives to custodial sentences

Listen from 00:27:52 [Global Player LBC]

Sailesh Mehta is instructed in high profile murder cases and complex cases concerning serious sexual allegations. He also sits as a Recorder.

Read more: [Sailesh Metha Profile]