Welcome to the April edition of our monthly Criminal Appeals Bulletin.

The Bulletin aims to highlight recent changes in case law and procedure in England and Wales, Northern Ireland, the Caribbean and Hong Kong and to provide practical guidance to those advising on appellate matters. Our monthly case summaries illustrate when an appellate court is likely to interfere with conviction or sentence, as well as looking at the courts’ approach to procedural matters. The featured article provides an in-depth commentary on a current appeal topic - in this edition Peter Carter QC considers a decision of the CACD (“that we can applaud”) dealing with victims of modern slavery and the statutory defence.

I look at the latest CACD cases on criticism of trial counsel as a ground of appeal, a post Jogee appeal, terrorism and article 10, challenging rulings in preparatory hearings, whether a writ of venire de novo is a standalone remedy, and sentencing mentally disordered offenders and top end drug conspiracies.

Richard Thomas  reviews the latest Hong Kong appeals involving challenges to convictions based on errors in the summing up, and against sentences for unlawful assembly, robbery, and increased sentences involving mandated refugee status.

I look at a Privy Council appeal from Trinidad and Tobago based on fresh psychiatric evidence raising diminished responsibility – contrary to the defence run at trial.

Richard Fisher QC continues his series analysing appeals arising from financial crimes, and looks at a recent decision on the tainted gift provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in the context of a property purchase in the joint names of a husband and wife.

It is hoped that the Northern Ireland case summary will return next month.

Doughty Street has some of the most experienced appellate practitioners at the Bar, including the contributors to the leading works on appellate procedure - The Criminal Appeals Handbook, Taylor on Criminal Appeals, Blackstones Criminal Practice (appeals section).

Please feel free to e-mail us or to call our crime team on 020 7400 9088. We also offer our instructing solicitors a free Advice Line, where they can discuss initial ideas about possible appeals, at no cost to them or their client.  More information on our services can be found on our website.

We hope that the bulletin is of interest to you. 

Paul Taylor QC

Head of the DSC Criminal Appeals Unit