Criminal Law Weekly Update

In this week's Criminal Law update, we delve into the recent judgments from the Court of Appeal Criminal Division, exploring key issues in evidence admissibility, sentencing, and fair trial rights. The podcast focuses on the significant Scottish cases of Daly v His Majesty's Advocate and Keir v His Majesty's Advocate, where the Supreme Court examined the admissibility of a complainer’s past behavi...

This week's Criminal Law update touches on significant sentencing decisions from the Court of Appeal Criminal Division. The podcast covers a range of topics including the proportionality of driving disqualifications in R v Harry Miles Peters, the sequencing of uplifts and guilty-plea discounts in drug conspiracy cases, and the complexities concerning coercive behaviour in domestic settings as seen...

In this week's Criminal Law update, we delve into recent judgments from the Court of Appeal Criminal Division that highlight significant legal issues. We explore the intricate use of bad character evidence in joint trials, particularly focusing on section 101(1)(e) of the Criminal Justice Act. The evolving treatment of foreign convictions and good character directions presents another critical the...

This weekly podcast offers a concise update on recent judgments from the Court of Appeal Criminal Division, addressing significant themes and issues arising from various cases. This episode discusses the balance between public protection and proportional punishment, the application of dangerousness and lead offence concepts, and the impact of mental health evidence on culpability. It also delves i...

In this week's Criminal Law update, we cover crucial decisions from the Court of Appeal that shed light on significant issues within the legal framework. Notably, the court addressed the application of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 with regards to reporting restrictions and the admissibility of res gestae evidence in complex sexual abuse cases. We also delve into the treatment of res ge...

In this week’s Criminal Law update, we examine significant rulings from the Court of Appeal regarding sentencing, procedural fairness, and the complexities of mental health in criminal justice. Highlights include the case of Harrison Lawrence Van-Pooss, where the court found flaws in sentencing following a tragic murder and sexual offence. We delve into the nuances of the manslaughter conviction o...

This weekly Criminal Law update covers key decisions from the Court of Appeal, highlighting significant themes in sentencing jurisprudence. The podcast explores pressing issues such as the boundaries of culpability, the impact of online activity in violent offences, and procedural correctness in sentencing. Notably, the cases discuss the application of youth sentencing principles, the handling of...

In this episode of the Criminal Law update, we delve into the implications of the Court of Appeal's ruling in the case of R v Martin Asolo-Ogugua [2025] EWCA Crim 1183. The decision highlights the intricacies of handling unduly lenient sentence references under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. This case serves as a pivotal reminder of the importance of proper categorisation under offen...

In this episode of the weekly Criminal Law update, we delve into the Court of Appeal's recent decisions on crucial evidential and sentencing issues. The case of Kurtaj against R highlights the challenges of admitting bad character evidence in circumstances where the defendant is found unfit to plead, showcasing the balance between probative value and the risk of prejudice. Moving to sentencing, Ky...

In this week's Criminal Law update, we delve into significant developments from England and Wales. We start by analysing the Court of Appeal's decision in EAC against The Crown, a case that illuminates the complexities surrounding the treatment of vulnerable children, juror information, and sentencing practices. The Court's rigorous examination of the trial's fairness and findings regarding the ap...

In this week's episode of the Criminal Law Update, we navigate pivotal decisions from the Court of Appeal Criminal Division, exploring themes surrounding the precise articulation of indictment elements, the complexities in guiding juries on consent and age in sexual offences, and the nuances of sentencing within the framework of totality. Highlighted cases include discussions on the requirements f...