Dundee ‘acquitted’ modern-day retrial

Incredible experience for aspiring young lawyers

For the lawyers of the future who conducted the Bury retrial, it was an incredible experience.

The young members of the Dundee and Aberdeen University mooting societies were given the opportunity to spend weeks working with two of Scotland’s leading lawyers, Alex Prentice QC and Dorothy Bain QC.

They also worked on the preparation of their cases with Dr John Clark, Professor Richard Shepherd and Dr Stuart Hamilton.

Thanks to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, there was also the opportunity to spend the day working in a genuine court room.

On the bench, and available to share his wisdom with them both before and after the trial, was Lord Hugh Matthews, a senator of the College of Justice and a judge of Scotland’s Supreme Courts.

The legal talent was not confined to the prosecution and defence, however, as the public benches were crammed with members of Scotland’s legal profession, including Scotland’s most senior judge, Lord Carloway.

Top lawmen had also travelled from England to see the retrial take place and watch the students in action.

Dame Sue Black said: “It fills me with hope and enthusiasm for the future of the law in Scotland to know that it is in such good hands.

“The students rose to the challenge in style and did tremendously, even though it must have been terrifying for them.”

She continued: “I cannot thank everyone involved enough for their hard work and in particular the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service and its staff for enabling us to hold the trial in the same court Bury once appeared in.”

Lord Matthews said the two teams had presented the evidence “with a great deal of skill”.

A documentary based upon Bury and the retrial, presented by Dan Snow, will be broadcast by HistoryHit TV later in the year.

Pictures: Steven Brown. Clockwise from top: Michael Thane, 22, from Dundee, and Bob Cunningham, from Arbroath, playing the parts of William Bury and 19th Century policeman respectively, Professor Dame Sue Black with Bury’s neck bones, and Chloe Smith for the prosecution.

Rostislav Gurbunov, 22, poses questions during the retrial.