Judge apologises after sugar plantation owner' question to defendant

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"Mr Pyle, addressing the defendant, asked why would you need to carry a machete in the town centre unless you are a sugar plantation owner?, the JCIO said. He apologised, saying the remark was intended as a rhetorical question to emphasise that the only place to carry a machete was on a sugar plantation, not on the streets of Sheffield, and that he did not mean to show bias, the JCIO said. After an investigation, a nominated judge found that Mr Pyle's comment was ill-judged and contrary to judicial guidance on avoiding language that goes beyond the facts of a case."

The Independent reports from the ground on reproductive rights, climate change and Big Tech, investigating subjects such as the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC and producing documentaries like 'The A Word' that profile American women fighting for reproductive rights. The Independent relies on donations to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of stories and maintains a no-paywall policy so reporting and analysis remain free to all, funded by those who can afford to contribute. District Judge Leo Pyle was issued formal advice for misconduct after making a machete-related comment; he apologised and an investigation found the remark ill-judged and contrary to judicial guidance.

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