The welfare of victims should be the top priority of the justice system. When victims are left to suffer without help it can compromise justice as people will think twice about coming forward at all. Some may decide the price is too high and refuse to participate - which is a failure for justice, the 'system' and for society, and offenders will walk free.

We are very concerned about plans for the new police and crime commissioners to organise and fund virtually all help for victims and witnesses. This would mean patchy local services rather than the current national backbone of support and the potential waste of £21million of tax payers' money on red tape and form filling.

I do not envy the task of the jurors on this occasion. I'm not sure if trials are allowed to 'jump the shark', but this one certainly seems to be heading in that direction at times.