Welcome to the February 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.
This month also sees the start of a new series analysing appeals arising from financial crimes. Richard Fisher QC, co-author of Blackstones Guide to the Proceeds of Crime Act, starts by looking at the Supreme Court decision in R (on the application of Gibson) v SS for Justice.
In this edition Daniella Waddoup analyses the CACD’s approach to anonymity orders for victims of human trafficking. I look at recent conviction appeals dealing with trial proceedings that are declared a “nullity”, and bad character evidence, and an appeal against sentence passed for encouraging support for a proscribed organisation. I also consider a NICA sentencing appeal relating to causing gbh to a child.
Richard Thomas reviews the latest Hong Kong conviction appeals involving hearsay evidence, failure to properly leave the defence case in the summing up, and sentencing appeals relating to investment scams and defendants giving assistance to the authorities. It is hoped that the Caribbean case summaries will return in the next issue.
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.
If you would like to know more, or discuss how our barristers may be able to help you and your clients, please contact Maurice MacSweeney, our Business Development Director, on 020 7404 1313.
Richard Thomas reviews the latest Hong Kong conviction appeals involving hearsay evidence, failure to properly leave the defence case in the summing up, and sentencing appeals relating to investment scams and defendants giving assistance to the authorities.
