Sexual Offences Bill [HL]

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 6:45 pm on 19 May 2003.

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Photo of Baroness Walmsley Baroness Walmsley Liberal Democrat 6:45, 19 May 2003

I shall speak also to the other amendments in the group. As my noble friend Lord Thomas of Gresford made clear in earlier amendments, we oppose a double reversal of the burden of proof. For example, in Clause 69 once the ingredients of the offence have been proved by the prosecution the burden shifts to the defendant to prove on a balance of probabilities that he did not know that he and the other party were related. If he succeeds, he may still be convicted if the prosecution then satisfies the jury, so that it is sure that the accused could reasonably have been expected to know. I find that confusing for a jury and dangerous. We adopt the approach of Clauses 33 to 42, where the burden throughout is on the prosecution to prove that the accused did know of the mental disorder or learning disability—or alternatively, that he could have reasonably been expected to know.

The amendment makes the matter simpler to understand and, save in the most exceptional circumstances, would produce the approach that the Government desire—that the knowledge of belief of the defendant must be reasonably based. We are forced to ask again why that approach seems necessary in cases involving sex with a relative. We are not looking for a particularly liberal approach but rather a consistent one. I beg to move.