Welcome to the May edition of our Criminal Appeals Bulletin.

The Bulletin aims to highlight recent changes in case law and procedure, and to provide practical guidance to those advising on appellate matters. In our new case law section we have selected cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland that illustrate when an appellate court is likely to interfere with conviction or sentence, and procedural matters.

In this edition we look at recent CACD’s decisions dealing with prejudicial publicity as a ground of appeal, and the extent to which the extreme age of an appellant will be a mitigating factor when sentencing. Tim Moloney QC looks at a recent NICA case relating to criticism of trial counsel (see the dedicated section on Northern Ireland cases), and there is an analysis of the potential impact of the investigation into data tampering at Randox. 

As ever we would be pleased to assist you and your clients on any issues surrounding criminal appeals.

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.

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We hope that the articles are of interest to you.  And we would very much like to hear your feedback on the bulletin - do please call or e-mail.   

Paul Taylor

Head of the DSC Criminal Appeals Unit