Cambridge Crown Court

Until the early 21st century, crown court hearings were held in the Cambridge Guildhall.{{cite news | url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/City-gets-murders-nod-court-upgrade/story-22463739-detail/story.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20140928060406/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/City-gets-murders-nod-court-upgrade/story-22463739-detail/story.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=28 September 2014 | title=City gets murders nod after court upgrade | work=Cambridge News | date=11 May 2005 | accessdate=27 September 2014 }} After the judicial facilities in the guildhall were deemed to be inadequate, the Lord Chancellor's Department decided to commission a new courthouse: the site chosen had originally accommodated a row of shops as well as a public house known as the "Wheelwright's Arms", which closed in 1960,{{cite web|url=https://www.closedpubs.co.uk/cambridgeshire/cambridge_wheelwrightsarms.html|title=Wheelwright's Arms|publisher=Closed Pubs|access-date=13 January 2023}} and later accommodated Mackay's Garden Centre.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WpAcAQAAMAAJ |page=611|title=Who Owns Whom: United Kingdom & Ireland|volume=1|year=2002|publisher=Dun & Bradstreet|isbn=9781860716133 }}

The new building was procured under a Private finance initiative contract in 2001.{{cite news|url=https://www.building.co.uk/news/mowlem-scoops-20m-courts-pfi-project/1010545.article|title=Mowlem scoops £20m courts PFI project|date=17 August 2001|newspaper=Building|access-date=9 January 2023}} It was designed by Austin-Smith:Lord in the modern style,{{cite web |url=http://www.architecture.com/Files/RIBAProfessionalServices/Regions/East/CAMBS%20ARC%202006%2053.pdf |title=Cambridge architecture |publisher=Architecture.com |accessdate=2013-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608153334/http://www.architecture.com/Files/RIBAProfessionalServices/Regions/East/CAMBS%20ARC%202006%2053.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-08 |url-status=dead }}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jUi8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT135|title=The Democratic Courthouse: A Modern History of Design, Due Process and Dignity|first1= Linda|last1= Mulcahy|first2= Emma|last2= Rowden|year=2019|publisher=Taylor and Francis|isbn=978-0429558689}} built by Mowlem and was opened on 7 June 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/54e6de9e0c383719802572b9005141ed/12c4d4dbc68bc4bd802572ab004b9900?OpenDocument |title=Cambridge Crown Court Moves To New Premises |publisher=Wired-gov.net |date=2004-06-02 |accessdate=2013-11-18}} It was commissioned as a Tier 1 court centre, used for trial of serious offences including murder, with three courtrooms. The design involved a drum-shaped structure built in rusticated brick.{{cite web|url=https://www.arct.cam.ac.uk/system/files/documents/bbs-94.pdf |title=Death of a Dragon |page=5|publisher=British Brick Society|date=1 July 2004|issn=0960-7870}} There was a prominent Royal coat of arms mounted on the brick work on the west side and narrow bands of glazing on the east side. Internally, the building was laid out to accommodate three courtrooms.

Gareth Hawkesworth became resident judge in summer 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.southeastcircuit.org.uk/bar-messes/latest-reports |title=South Eastern Circuit Latest Reports |accessdate=2 December 2012}} Jonathan Haworth is diversity and community relations judge for the court, and was formerly resident judge.{{cite web | url=http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/about-the-judiciary/who-are-the-judiciary/list-of-members-of-the-judiciary/diversity-and-community-relations-judges-list/ | title=Diversity and community relations judges | publisher=Courts and Tribunals Judiciary | accessdate=27 September 2014}}

Notable cases heard at the court include:

• September 2009 - Rekha Kumari-Baker was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 33 years, for the murder of her two daughters. They were killed as they slept, Kumari-Baker stabbing them 69 times in total.{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/6218223/Mother-Rekha-Kumari-Baker-sentenced-to-33-years-for-murders-of-children.html | title=Mother Rekha Kumari-Baker sentenced to 33 years for murders of children | newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | date=23 September 2009 | accessdate=17 November 2013 }}
• November 2015 - Mark Mosley was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 30 years, for the murder of fellow traveller Jessie Smith with a sawn-off shotgun after a New Year's Eve dispute. He was also convicted of attempted murder of another traveller, Paul 'Rambo' Smith.{{cite news | url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Mark-Mosley-sentenced-30-years-bars-murder-fellow/story-28141085-detail/story.html | title=Mark Mosley sentenced to 30 years behind bars for murder of fellow traveller Jessie Smith | newspaper=Cambridge News | date=9 November 2015 | accessdate=2 February 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112010651/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Mark-Mosley-sentenced-30-years-bars-murder-fellow/story-28141085-detail/story.html | archive-date=2015-11-12 | url-status=dead }}
• January 2018 - Korim 'Abdul' Ali & Abdul Salam 'Minnie' Ali, of Darwin Drive, Arbury, Cambridge, were sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court on 12 January 2018.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/live-james-cromwell-murderer-sentencing-14144140|title=Recap: James Cromwell murderer Abdul K Ali is sentenced|last=Thomas|first=Josh|date=2018-01-12|work=cambridgenews|access-date=2018-01-12}} Korim 'Abdul' was handed a life sentence and must serve a minimum of 23 years before he will be eligible for release from the parole panel after being found guilty of the murder of James Cromwell. He also received an 8 months sentence to serve concurrently for using a mobile phone in custody. Abdul Salam 'Minnie' Ali was handed a 3-year sentence for intimidating a witness and a concurrent sentence of 8 months for being party to illegal communications on a mobile phone. K & S Ali's mother, Nazna Begum, who said her son had been in the family home at the time he is alleged to have killed James Cromwell was not charged nor was K Ali's girlfriend, Korell Holley for supporting this false statement.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/james-cromwell-abdul-korim-ali-14133562|title=James Cromwell murder accused: 'I was in bed sick the night of the attack'|last=Thomas|first=Josh|date=2018-01-12|work=cambridgenews|access-date=2018-01-12}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://courttribunalfinder.service.gov.uk/courts/cambridge-crown-court Court information]

Category:Court buildings in England

Category:Crown Court buildings

Category:Buildings and structures in Cambridge

Category:Government buildings completed in 2004

Category:2004 establishments in England