British man who fought ISIS charged with terror offenses

It is the first time someone who fought against the jihadist group has been charged under UK terror legislation, according to Britain's Crown Prosecution Service.
James Matthews, a former British soldier according to the UK Press Association, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in central London on Wednesday.

The 43-year-old is charged with having attended a place or places in Iraq and Syria where training was provided "for purposes connected with the commission or preparation of acts of terrorism."

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JANFU said:

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/15/europe/british-man-isis-terrorism-intl/index.html



I think I found the correct Act.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-act-2006

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gunner said:

A complete travesty. He waged war on an evil that is the scurge of our time.

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At the preliminary hearing, Matthews spoke to confirm his name and date of birth. He was granted conditional bail until his first hearing on 1 March, at the criminal court, where future court dates will be discussed.

Matthews’ lawyer, Joel Bennathan QC, said that these might not be quick proceedings under terrorism legislation, with potential for appeals. He said: “What we have no guidance on is whether groups of men who are fighting with air covers from the French and [with] support from UK forces ... whether men and women in that situation fall under the Terrorism Act.”

The magistrate, Emma Arbuthnot, said: “This is a very unusual case. It’s certainly the first case this court has had in front of it, in numerous other alleged terrorism cases.”

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An information must be sworn by the informant, who is normally a peace officer. The informant then must lay the information before a justice of the peace. The information must contain an allegation that an offence has been committed, within the territorial jurisdiction of the justice of the peace.[5] The justice of the peace then is required to review the information and determine if process should issue under the Criminal Code for the arrest of the individual.[6]
Canada and UK have similar laws, judicial history/common law. And I am sure there are many instances of such in US laws

If the matter is a summary matter, the information is then laid before the court with jurisdiction to hear the charges, usually the Provincial Court, and the matter will proceed directly to trial.

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Criminal Cases
In England and Wales criminal offences are mainly prosecuted by the Criminal
Prosecution Service (CPS), headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions
(DPP). Individuals are also allowed to commence and prosecute criminal
proceedings; this right is contained within Section 6 of the Prosecution of
Offences Act 1985, and can be summarised as follows:

The law allows any person to institute or conduct any criminal
proceedings. The Director of Public Prosecutions is under a
duty to take over the conduct of certain proceedings, and has
discretion to take over any proceedings begun by a private
prosecutor at any stage, and may choose to end those
proceedings at any stage.
This means that although you are able to commence criminal proceedings,
your right to conduct or end the prosecution could be restricted by the CPS.

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