THE first live screening of court proceedings outside London takes place in Nottingham today.
Live broadcasting from the Court of Appeal – which was only made legal on October 31 – ventures outside the capital to Nottingham Crown Court.
The case being aired is an appeal by Mairead Philpott and Paul Mosley.
Mairead is the wife of Mick Philpott.
She and Mosley were convicted of the manslaughter of six children and sentenced to 17 years behind bars.
Jade Philpott, 10, and brothers John, nine, Jack, seven, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, died in a house fire in Derby in May 2012, which was started by Mick Philpott. Duwayne, who was 13, died three days later.
Sky, BBC, ITN and the Press Association have rights to screen the appeal.
Courts Minister Shailesh Vara told the Post that Nottingham should be "very proud" to be the first city outside the capital to host a televised appeal. He said: "I think this is a landmark occasion for the city. I suspect interest in the specific trial is why the broadcasters are showing it, but that in no way detracts from the importance of the city's crown court's proud historical record."
Mr Vara explained that the Ministry of Justice was keen to expand live broadcasting into crown courts up and down the country in a bid to rejuvenate public interest in the judicial system.
"In days gone by, the courts were quite full because it would provide local interest," he said. "Nowadays you have many other distractions and people reporting the cases.
"I think it's important in the 21st century to have openness and transparency in the way our judiciary operates."
But Mr Vara was adamant the country would not fall into American-style televised coverage.
He said: "People used to go to court as a form of entertainment, but we are not heading in the direction of US-style broadcasts like the OJ Simpson trial."
Mr Vara said he felt the most interesting part of the Simpson trial was watching witnesses give evidence, but assured the Post measures would be taken to maintain strict laws on anonymity for the juries, witnesses and defendants.
In an appeal, there is no jury to influence, so issues of identification are avoided.
"We have struck a balance so the public can see what lawyers and the judge have said," Mr Vara said.
There will be a 70-second delay in recordings to avoid anything that could unfairly incriminate the defendant being aired.
The judge would have the right to stop broadcasts any time they chose to do so.
"Its important to remember our judiciary system is independent," added the Courts Minister. "The judge has the final say."
