THIS IS JUDGE JOHNATHAN DURHAM HALL
He refused to jail a 15 year old girl who stabbed a 56 year old man who had sexually abused her as a child. The girl was originally charged with wounding with intent but later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Judge Jonathan Durham Hall KC decided NOT to send her to prison, saying it would be “callous and cruel” given her trauma and the context of her life.
He gave her a supervised two-year youth rehabilitation order instead of custody.
The judge also refused to impose the mandatory small victim surcharge (a fine) and said, “If anyone tries to force you to pay it, I will pay it myself.”
The judge was later punished for that comment and it resulted in a formal reprimand from the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office for breaching judicial conduct guidance. Was his punishment fair and just or should he have jailed the young girl?
