Shaky start to 'court case TV'

Apr 3 2007 By Lee Kenny, Birmingham Mail

PEOPLE appearing before courts in Birmingham will have the chance to plead their case to the nation thanks to a specialist TV channel.

The People's Court has been launched by Aston-based satellite channel Legal TV.

It aims to give everyone from offenders and witnesses to lawyers and friends the opportunity to make their voices heard.

It is still illegal for cameras to go into British courtrooms, so instead camera crews and producers will approach people as they go into court and then hear what happened once their case is over.

But the show got off to a troubled start yesterday when bosses were moved on from outside Birmingham Magistrates Court by security officers.

As the new programme was launched, the usually sombre exterior of the Corporation Street court had the feeling of a street carnival with a live jazz band and balloons.

But the festival atmosphere was broken by security who barred the musicians from performing on court property.

And today the Chief Crown Prosecutor for the West Midlands urged aggrieved parties to follow the appeals process, rather than tell all to a TV crew if they are frustrated by the court's decision.

David Blundell, of CPS West Midlands, said that it is not illegal for anyone to repeat what they said in court to friends, family or the media.

"Every defendant that has been spoken to has the choice personally, or through their lawyer, to say anything they want to in court," he said.

"None of them will be found guilty of any criminal offences unless the court is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt as to their guilt and, even if they are found guilty, they have the right of appeal.

"If they are frustrated about the decision of the court they should exercise their right of appeal."

Vijay Gulwani, content manager of Legal TV, said the channel is not afraid to court controversy.

"What we want to do is to give people a platform to air their opinions about their case," he said.

"The idea is to give viewers an idea of the sort of cases that are dealt with."

The show will broadcast on Sky Channel 215 .