Sir William Macpherson of Cluny, who chaired the Stephen Lawrence enquiry,will deliver a lecture at the University of Dundee on Tuesday 4 December explaining the difficulties of judging high profile criminal cases.
As the trial for Sarah Payne's murder continues Sir William will address the issues of trying difficult murder cases that attract wide media coverage because they involve children or issues of race and discrimination.
The University of Dundee is the only University in Scotland to offer English law. This lecture will give English law students the chance to hear one of the most experienced judges in the English justice system while Scots law students will be able to draw comparative conclusions for their studies.
After he retired, Sir William was asked by the Prime Minister to chair one of the most contentious legal investigations in recent British history: The Stephen Lawrence enquiry. Professor Bissett-Johnson, of the University of Dundee's law department awarding Sir William an honorary degree from the University in 1999 said: "The Lawrence enquiry threw new insights into race relations in Britain. It was a seminal report and reminds us of the corrosive power of racism to corrupt our society.
His most highly publicised case was the trial of Robert Black for the murder of three children which turned almost entirely on circumstantial evidence. Sir William's charge to the jury has been a study case for law students ever since.
Sir William Macpherson lives locally at Newton castle near Blairgowrie. The lecture will take place on Tuesday 4 December at 1pm in the Tower Building. The lecture is free and open to the public./ENDS
Contact Stuart Cross. Department of Law 01382 344603