The prisoner was subject to an extended sentence, and had been recalled to prison. He now complained that the recall procedure had infringed his human rights. Judges: Ward, Keene LJJ, Munby J Citations: [2003] EWCA Civ 1845, [2004] 2 WLR 1170, [2004] HRLR 15 Links: Bailii Statutes: Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000& 85, … Continue reading Secretary of State for the Home Department v Sim and The Parole Board: CA 19 Dec 2003
By this claim for judicial review, the Claimant, a prisoner returned from Thailand, challenges the decision of the Secretary of State for Justice (‘the Defendant’) of 3 April 2020 refusing to treat him as a ‘transferred life prisoner’ and accordingly declining to refer his case to the High Court, in accordance with s.273(1) of the … Continue reading Neville, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: Admn 20 Apr 2021
The defendant was convicted of burglary. He had a previous conviction, within the statutory assumption period of six years, for handling. Both the property stolen in the burglary and the property handled had been recovered intact and restored, undamaged, to the true owners. The defendant had obtained no other benefit from the offences. These two … Continue reading Wilkes, Regina v: CACD 7 Mar 2003
The defendants protested the growing of genetically modified crops. The prosecutor appealed dismissal of charges of aggravated trespass for them having entered a crop and attached themselves to tractors. The district judge decided they had genuine fears for the surrounding area, and had not acted unlawfully. Held: Where a defence of lawful justification is put … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Bayer, Hart, Snook, and Whistance: Admn 4 Nov 2003
The applicant had been given indefinite leave to remain in England, but was later convicted of indecent assault, and recommended for deportation. On appeal the court said that the order for deportation was disproportionate. After serving his sentence and on release. The respondent decided that he should be deported under the 1971 Act, but gave … Continue reading M v the Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 19 Feb 2003
In 1955, the deceased defendant was convicted of murder, and later hanged. The court considerd a post mortem appeal by the CRCC and her family. It was suggested that she should have been found guilty of manslaughter having been provoked by the victim. Held: There was no dispute that Mrs Ellis had taken the gun … Continue reading Ruth Ellis v Regina: CACD 8 Dec 2003
The applicant sought his release from detention in hospital, correction of records at the Crown Court, and confirmation that his detention had infringed his human rights. He had been accused of two assaults, but was found unfit to plead under section 4 by a jury. He was however later made subject to the s37 order. … Continue reading A, Regina (on the Application of) v Harrow Crown Court and others: Admn 14 Aug 2003
The claimant had made complaints against the defendant solicitor to the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors. In answer the defendant made assertions about the claimant’s mental health, and she now sought to bring action iin defamation on those statements. The defendant said the statements were protected by absolute privilege. Held: Given the status and … Continue reading Gray v Avadis: QBD 30 Jul 2003
A firm of accountants had agreed to provide their services as experts in a case on the basis that they would be paid by taking part of any damages awarded. The respondent claimed that such an agreement was champertous and unlawful. Held: The tort of champerty as such had been abolished, but the rule remained … Continue reading Regina (Factortame Ltd and Others) v Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (No 8): CA 3 Jul 2002
The appellant had been detained in a mental hospital after a conviction. Later released, he was recalled, but he was not given written reasons as required by a DoH circular. However the SS referred the recall immediately to the Tribunal. He appealed from refusal of a finding that his subsequent detention had been unlawful. Held: … Continue reading Lee-Hirons v Secretary of State for Justice: SC 27 Jul 2016
The claimant complained that the revocation of his home detention licence under section 255 was an infringement of his human rights. Held: There had been no deprivation of liberty.Collins J said: ‘In my judgment, having regard to the various authorities, it would be wrong for me to decide that Article 5(4) does apply in the … Continue reading Benson, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: Admn 20 Aug 2007
Appeal from refusal of judicial review of date set for release from prison – release on home detention curfew Judges: Gross, Lindblom, Flaux LJJ Citations: [2017] EWCA Civ 989, [2017] WLR(D) 495 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 2003 246 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Prisons Updated: 28 March 2022; Ref: scu.591187
Transgender Male to Female not to marry as Female The parties had gone through a form of marriage, but Mrs B had previously undergone gender re-assignment surgery. Section 11(c) of the 1973 Act required a marriage to be between a male and a female. It was argued that the section was incompatible with the claimant’s … Continue reading Bellinger v Bellinger: HL 10 Apr 2003
The three claimants had each been convicted of murders and served time. Their convictions had been reversed eventually, and they now appealed against the refusal of compensation for imprisonment, saying that there had been a miscarriage of justice. Held: The appeal of Adams was denied, but those of MacDermott and McCartney allowed (by majority). The … Continue reading Adams, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: SC 11 May 2011
The Court considered requests made by European Arrest Warrants for the surrender under Part 1 of the Extradition Act 2003 of three persons wanted to serve sentences imposed upon their conviction in other member states of the European Union. The court was asked whether the requests are open to challenge on the basis that (i) … Continue reading Bucnys v Ministry of Justice: SC 20 Nov 2013
The claimant was a prisoner released on a home detention licence, but his licence had been revoked. He now said that the way it had been revoked, without the respondent’s decision being subject to confirmation by the Parole Board, nor to other opportunity to make representations, was infringement of his human rights. Held: The appeal … Continue reading Whiston, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: CA 25 Oct 2012
Two defendants accused of murder each sought to place blame for the victim’s death on the other. One sought to rely upon the other’s record of violence as evidence of his co-accused’s propensity to violence.
Held: The record was admissible. By . .
The Secretary of State attempted, in the course of director’s disqualification proceedings, to rely upon findings made against Mr Bairstow in an earlier wrongful dismissal action to which he had been a party but the Secretary of State not. The . .
Whether law restricting early release for prisoners convicted of terrorist offences was discriminatory. . .
The claimant had obtained an interim injunction against the defendant for copyright infringement, though it could show no losses. It now sought additionally damages. The defendant argued that it could not have both.
Held: The case arose form . .
The applicant was serving two life sentences for Mafia related activities. He challenged nine decrees issued by the Minister of Justice under which he was held under a special prison regime for a period of four years. His case related to delays by . .
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Jury Tampering Provisions A applied for permission to appeal against conviction, saying that the decision on his guilt was made by the trial Judge who had discharged the jury that had been sworn to try the case, and then proceeded to give judgment himself. The Judge was exercising the powers conferred by section 46 of … Continue reading Allen, Regina v: CACD 27 Jun 2019
The appellant contended that the judge wrongly concluded there had been jury tampering and therefore wrongly exercised his powers, under s.46 of the CJA 2003, to order the continuation of the trial without a jury. Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, CJ [2016] EWCA Crim 3 Bailii Criminal Justice Act 2003 46 England and Wales Criminal Practice … Continue reading McManaman, Regina v: CACD 15 Jan 2016
Ineta Ziemele, P 67318/09 22226/12 – Admissibility Decision, [2013] ECHR 578 Bailii European Convention on Human Rights, Criminal Justice Act 2003 46(3) Human Rights Citing: Legal Summary – Twomey, Cameron and Guthrie v The United Kingdom (Legal Summary) ECHR 28-May-2013 ECHR Criminal proceedingsArticle 6-1Fair hearingEquality of armsIndependent tribunalTrial by judge sitting alone owing to risk … Continue reading Twomey, Cameron And Guthrie v The United Kingdom (Judgment): ECHR 28 May 2013
ECHR Criminal proceedingsArticle 6-1Fair hearingEquality of armsIndependent tribunalTrial by judge sitting alone owing to risk of jury tampering: inadmissibleFacts – The case concerned the power under section 46 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for a judge in a trial on indictment to discharge the jury where jury tampering appears to have taken place. The … Continue reading Twomey, Cameron and Guthrie v The United Kingdom (Legal Summary): ECHR 28 May 2013
The claimant sought damages after his arrest by armed police. The defendant appealed a substantial award of damages. Held: The section required the officer to have reasonable grounds for suspecting the arrestees to be guilty of the offence. The constable must suspect both that an arrestable offence has been committed and that the citizen he … Continue reading Parker v Chief Constable of the Hampshire Constabulary: CA 25 Jun 1999
Appeals were brought complaining as to the apparent reversal of the burden of proof in road traffic cases and in cases under the Terrorism Acts. Was a legal or an evidential burden placed on a defendant? Held: Lord Bingham of Cornhill said: ‘The overriding concern is that a trial should be fair, and the presumption … Continue reading Sheldrake v Director of Public Prosecutions; Attorney General’s Reference No 4 of 2002: HL 14 Oct 2004
The defendant had been convicted of murder in 1952, and hung. A court hearing an appeal after many years must apply laws from different eras to different aspects. The law of the offence (of murder) to be applied was that at the time of the offence. In this case however the summing up was so … Continue reading Regina v Derek William Bentley (Deceased): CACD 30 Jul 1998
The defendant was convicted of murder. Evidence during the trial suggested a possibility of manslaughter, but neither the defence nor prosecution proposed the alternate verdict. The defendant now appealed saying that the judge had an independent duty to leave that option to the jury. Held: The appeal succeeded. The judge should have left a manslaughter … Continue reading Regina v Coutts: HL 19 Jul 2006
Golden Thread of British Justice – Proof of Intent The appellant had been convicted of the murder of his wife. She had left him and returned to live with her mother. He went to the house. He said he intended to frighten her that he would kill himself if she did not return. He wired … Continue reading Woolmington v Director of Public Prosecutions: HL 23 May 1935
The several defendants appealed against sentences imposed for acts preparatory to terrorism. Each had been involved to a lesser extent than principals in a larger circle. Held: Leveson LJ said: ‘Although potentially highly relevant both to culpability and potential harm (and, thus, of importance for the purpose of fixing the punitive part of any sentence) … Continue reading Khan and Others v Regina: CACD 16 Apr 2013
ECHR Article 6Civil proceedingsArticle 6-1Impartial tribunalIndependent tribunalStructural defects of the system of judicial discipline: violationFair hearingAbsence of limitation period for imposing disciplinary penalty on judges and abuse of electronic vote system in Parliament when adopting decision on judge’s dismissal: violationsTribunal established by lawComposition of chamber examining applicant’s case defined by a judge whose term of … Continue reading Oleksandr Volkov v Ukraine: ECHR 9 Jan 2013
(Grand Chamber) The applicant, a prisoner serving a long sentence for Mafia-type criminal offences, was subjected to a special regime by ministerial decrees. The restrictions included not only very limited family visits but also a long period (seemingly about three years) in a special form of high-security unit which involved separation from prisoners in other … Continue reading Enea v Italy: ECHR 17 Sep 2009
Where communications had been intercepted in a foreign country, and the manner of such interceptions had been lawful in that country, the evidence produced was admissible in evidence in a trial in England. An admission of such evidence was not an infringement of the rights to a fair trial, nor of the right to respect … Continue reading Regina v P and others: HL 19 Dec 2000
The applicant sought judicial review of the respondent’s certification under s94 that his cliam for asylum was hopeless. He said that he had acted as an informer against criminal gangs in Jamaica, and that the state of Jamacia could not provide him effective protection if he was returned. Held: Where a stste, though doing its … Continue reading Atkinson v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 5 Jul 2004
Prosecution appeal under s.58 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, with the leave of the trial judge, against the ruling given at Newcastle upon Tyne Crown Court on 13th March 2012 that taking the prosecution case at its highest, it would not be open to the jury to convict either respondent of manslaughter. Held: It … Continue reading JM and Another, Regina v: CACD 7 Nov 2012
The defendant appealed against the extent of fine and costs awards made against him following conviction for effective demolition of a substantial victorian property within a conservation area without consent. The court had refused to believe his statements as to his assets and income, but had also refused a confiscation order. The defendant said that … Continue reading Rance v Regina: CACD 9 Oct 2012
Ghana appealed from refusal of extradition of the respondent to face a charge of murder. The only sentence for murder in Ghana was death, but the government had undertaken not to impose that sentence. The district judge accepted the undertaking, but felt that the imposition of such a sentence even with the undertaking would infringe … Continue reading The Government of Ghana v Gambrah and Another: Admn 16 May 2014
(Grand Chamber) The appellants had each been convicted of more than one murder and had been sentenced to whole life terms. They complained that the absence of a possibility of review or remission was a breach of their rights. Held: For a life sentence to remain compatible with Article 3 there must be a prospect … Continue reading Vinter And Others v The United Kingdom: ECHR 9 Jul 2013
Written statements can be admissible at trial with the protections given by the section without being supported by oral evidence. An inference of the personal knowledge of the maker of statement is permissible. Citations: Ind Summary 03-Apr-1995, Times 09-Feb-1995, [1995] 2 Cr App R 523 Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 24(1)(ii) Jurisdiction: England and Wales … Continue reading Regina v Foxley: CACD 9 Feb 1995
ECHR Article 5-1 Deprivation of liberty Failure to provide the rehabilitative courses to prisoners which were necessary for their release: violation Facts – By virtue of section 225 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, indeterminate sentences for the public protection were introduced. Like sentences of life imprisonment, these required the direction of the Parole Board … Continue reading James, Wells and Lee v The United Kingdom: ECHR 18 Sep 2012
The claimant sought to challenge search warrants issued by the respondents. The warrants were criticised as being too widely drawn, and in breach of the 1984 Act. Criticism was also made of the implementation of the searches, in the use of excess numbers of officers, and the taking of images of hard disks, thus acquiring … Continue reading Da Costa and Co (a Firm) and Collins v Thames Magistrates Court and H M Commissioners of Customs and Excise: QBD 25 Jan 2002
The applicant had dual Iraqi and British nationality. He was detained by British Forces in Iraq under suspicion of terrorism, and interned. Held: His appeal failed. The UN resolution took priority over the European Convention on Human Rights where there was a conflict between them. ‘If the Security Council, acting under Chapter VII, consider that … Continue reading Al-Jedda v Secretary of State for Defence: CA 29 Mar 2006
The claimant alleged complicity by the defendant, (now former) Foreign Secretary, in his mistreatment by the US while held in Libya. He also alleged involvement in his unlawful abduction and removal to Libya, from which had had fled for political persecution. The defendants now appealed from rejection of the defendants’ claim to state immunity and … Continue reading Belhaj and Another v Straw and Others: SC 17 Jan 2017
The applicant was a restricted mental patient. His conditional release had been ordered, but required a consultant psychiatrist to be found who would agree to supervise him. None such could be found, and his detention continued. After two years he contended that his continued detention infringed his human rights. Held: Campbell’s case required s73 to … Continue reading Regina (IH) v Secretary of State for the Home Department and Another: CA 15 May 2002
The defendant had been convicted of a series of armed robberies. He had already been sentenced to life imprisonment and committed these offences while released on licence. He now appealed against an additional sentence of imprisonment for public protection saying it was wrong in principle to have two indeterminate sentences. Held: Maurice Kay LJ said: … Continue reading Regina v Smith, N: CACD 27 Jan 2010
Judges: Thomas LJ, Treacy, Saunders JJ Citations: [2010] EWCA Crim 2054, (2010) 174 JP 546 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 2003 230 230A Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Leacock and Others, Regina v CACD 12-Nov-2013 The defendants sought leave to appeal against their sentences, saying that the time served calculations had … Continue reading Boutell, Regina v: CACD 19 Aug 2010
A section 255 home detention licence revocation does not involve a deprivation of liberty so as to engage Article 5(4). Judges: Judge Milwyn Jarman QC Citations: [2010] EWHC 1557 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 2003 246 255, European Convention on Human Rights 5(4) Citing: Applied – Benson, Regina (on the Application of) v … Continue reading McAlinden, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: Admn 4 May 2010
The issue in this appeal against sentence is whether there is any legal inhibition against the imposition of a determinate sentence to be served at a time commencing at the end of a minimum term specified under section 269 and Schedule 21 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Citations: [2011] EWCA Crim 2236, [2012] Crim … Continue reading Regina v Taylor: CACD 14 Jul 2011
The newspaper applied for leave to access documents referred to but not released during the course of extradition proceedings in open court. Held: The application was to be allowed. Though extradition proceedings were not governed by the Civil Procedure Rules, wider principles still applied. The open justice principle is a constitutional principle to be found … Continue reading Guardian News and Media Ltd, Regina (on The Application of) v City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court: CA 3 Apr 2012
Criminality of Assisting Suicide not Infringing The court was asked: ‘whether the present state of the law of England and Wales relating to assisting suicide infringes the European Convention on Human Rights, and whether the code published by the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to prosecutions of those who are alleged to have assisted a … Continue reading Nicklinson and Another, Regina (on The Application of): SC 25 Jun 2014
Each defendant appealed on the basis that they had not had proper opportunity to cross examine prosecution witnesses whose evidence had been accepted by the court. In each case evidence had been hearsay. In two cases, the witness had died before trial, in the third the witness did not attend for fear, and in the … Continue reading Horncastle and Others v Regina: CACD 22 May 2009
The defendant appealed from an order of the judge that 88 days spent in custody should not go toward his sentence for theft and handling stolen goods. The judge said that the offences had been committed while the defendant was released on licence from a sentence for other offences. Judges: Lord Judge LCJ, Wyn Williams … Continue reading Metcalfe, Regina v: CACD 18 Feb 2009
Inherent High Court power may restrain Publicity The claimant child’s mother was to be tried for the murder of his brother by poisoning with salt. It was feared that the publicity which would normally attend a trial, would be damaging to S, and an application was made for reporting restrictions to be applied to avoid … Continue reading In re S (a Child) (Identification: Restrictions on Publication): HL 28 Oct 2004
The appellants were magazines and journalists who published, after committal proceedings, the name of a witness, a member of the security services, who had been referred to as Colonel B during the hearing. An order had been made for his name not to be disclosed during the hearing, but the court had had no power … Continue reading Attorney-General v Leveller Magazine Ltd: HL 1 Feb 1979
Presumption in Favour of Open Proceedings There had been an unauthorised dissemination by the petitioner to third parties of the official shorthand writer’s notes of a nullity suit which had been heard in camera. An application was made for a committal for contempt. Held: The House equated the contempt to a breach of an injunction … Continue reading Scott v Scott: HL 5 May 1913
The Crown appealed against a ruling that the court would not admit a written statement of a defendant from a related trial implicating the defendant. Held: A Court of Appeal will only interfere with a ruling under the Act if the ruling falls outside the range of reasonable decisions at which the judge could properly … Continue reading Y, Regina v: CACD 25 Jan 2008
The prisoners appealed the review of the recommended minimum terms they must serve on that term being reviewed by the court, saying that the court should have made allowance for the exceptional progress to rehabilitation made in prison. Held: If the evidence is in essence fresh information about the offender, a court will normally not … Continue reading Caines, Regina v, Regina v Roberts: CACD 23 Nov 2006
The prosecution sought leave to appeal the quashing of an indictment. Held: Section 53 of the 2003 Act could not be used for this purpose. The defendants had successfully challenged the adequacy of the Crown’s case before trial. The defendants had not therefore been arraigned, and the dismissal did not amount to a formal acquittal … Continue reading Thompson and Another, Regina v: CACD 22 Nov 2006
The appellants had been convicted of murder. They complained that the judge had misdirected the jury as to the effect of their silence and the inferences to be drawn. Held: The appeals failed. Whilst the direction on s34 was defective, it had in fact steered the jury away from drawing adverse inferences, and if properly … Continue reading Regina v Boyle and Another: CACD 25 Aug 2006
Judges: Lord Kingarth And Lord Mcewan And Lord Nimmo Smith Citations: [2006] ScotHC HCJAC – 55, 2007 SLT 14, 2008 JC 1, 2006 SCCR 463, 2006 GWD 33-690, [2006] HCJAC 55, [2007] Eu LR 42 Links: ScotC, Bailii Statutes: Extradition Act 2003 26(1) Jurisdiction: Scotland Citing: Appeal from – Goatley, Re European Arrest Warrant ScSf … Continue reading Goatley v Her Majesty’s Advocate and Another: HCJ 12 Jul 2006
The plaintiff sued for brain damage suffered at birth by use of forceps at the alleged professional negligence of his doctor. The Court of Appeal had reversed the judge’s finding in his favour. Held: In this case most of the evidence at issue was that of expert witnesses, and the court might therefore be more … Continue reading Whitehouse v Jordan: HL 17 Dec 1980
The court objected to the insistence on leaving the burden throughout a prosecution on the defendant on the ground that ‘the discharge of an evidential burden proves nothing – it merely raises an issue’. The House emphasised the special nature of the provisions, saying there was little doubt that the occasions upon which a statute … Continue reading Regina v Hunt (Richard): HL 1987
Citations: [2008] EWCA Crim 463 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 2003 58 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime Updated: 27 June 2022; Ref: scu.266104
The claimant suffered back pain for which she required neurosurgery. The operation was associated with a 1-2% risk of the cauda equina syndrome, of which she was not warned. She went ahead with the surgery, and suffered that complication. The evidence established that cauda equina syndrome was a random and inherent risk of the surgery, … Continue reading Chester v Afshar: HL 14 Oct 2004
The claimant sought increased maternity pay. Before beginning her maternity leave she had been awarded a pay increase, but it was not backdated so as to affect the period upon which the calculation of her average pay was based. The court made a detailed comparison of the regimes for protection under the Employment Rights Act … Continue reading Alabaster v Barclays Bank Plc and Another: CA 3 May 2005
The expression ‘cross-demand’ in rule 6.5(4)(a) did not imply any kind of procedural or juridical relationship to the debt subject to the statutory demand. All it meant was that the demand was one that went the other way, i.e. was a demand by the debtor on the creditor. The cross-claim must still be one which … Continue reading Popely v Popely: CA 30 Apr 2004
(Australia) The Crown could not recover damages for the loss of the services of a police constable as the result of injuries caused by the negligence of a third person. A chief constable was an office held under the Crown, and the usual relationship of master and servant did not apply.Viscount Simonds said: ”And he … Continue reading Attorney-General for New South Wales v Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd: PC 14 Mar 1955
Challenge to a series of interim sexual risk orders (‘ISROs’) made pursuant to section 122E of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 Judges: Mr Justice Fordham Citations: [2022] EWHC 1176 (Admin) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Practice Updated: 08 June 2022; Ref: scu.677846
The claimant was awarded damages for injuries suffered in his work as a seaman. The respondents claimed that he should not receive damages, since he had made false declarations as to his health in order to obtain employment, hiding his epilepsy condition. Held: Clunis established that the court would not support an action founded upon … Continue reading Hewison v Meridian Shipping Pte, Coflexip Stena Offshore Ltd, Flex Installer Offshore Ltd: CA 11 Dec 2002
A former MI5 agent, Mr Shayler, was to be prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act, and an injunction against publication was granted. The respondent published further works by Mr Shayler, and now appealed a finding that it had acted in contempt of court. Held: The appeal failed. The purpose of the interlocutory injunction was not … Continue reading Her Majesty’s Attorney General v Punch Limited and another: HL 12 Dec 2002
The Court gave detailed guidelines on sentencing for offences of rape, following a report from the sentencing advisory panel. Held: The court outlined the base sentences for single and multiple offences of rape, listing aggravating and mitigating factors, and dealing specifically with date rape, acquaintance rape, male rape, and anal rape. The base sentence should … Continue reading Millberry, Morganian, Lackenby v Regina: CACD 9 Dec 2002
Each tenant had become unintentionally homeless, and was granted a non-secure tenancy of accommodation under section 193. Complaints of nuisance were received from neighbours. Possession orders were obtained and now challenged under the Human Rights Act. The service of the original notice to quit, engaged the Human Rights Act, but the action taken was lawful … Continue reading Smart v Sheffield City Council: Central Sunderland Housing Company Limited v Wilson: CA 25 Jan 2002
The claimant requested the defendant authority to remove his details from the electoral register before it was sold on to third parties. They refused. He claimed that the information had been obtained from him under penalty of criminal charges, and that to sell it on was an interference with his right to a private and … Continue reading Reid, Robertson v City of Wakefield Metropolitan Council, Secretary of State for the Home Department: Admn 16 Nov 2001
The defendant complained that he had been tried and convicted in his absence. Held: The right to a fair trial had been breached: ‘the object and purpose of [article 6] taken as a whole show that a person ‘charged with a criminal offence’ is entitled to take part in the hearing. Moreover, sub-paragraphs (c), (d) … Continue reading Colozza v Italy: ECHR 12 Feb 1985
The court considered appeals against tarriffs set for defendants convicted of murder in the light of the schedules to the 2003 Act. Held: ‘The guidance given by Schedule 21 is provided to assist the judge to determine the appropriate sentence. The judge must have regard to the guidance, but each case will depend critically on … Continue reading Jones, Regina v: CACD 30 Nov 2005
The court considered the interaction of sections 240 of the 2003 Act, and 67 of the 1967 Act as applied to time spent on remand. Held: The court laying down the sentence should address this issue, and declare whether all time or otherwise spent on remand should count against the sentence. If there was any … Continue reading Gordon, Regina v; Regina v Taylor etc: CACD 8 Feb 2007
The Police had confiscated money suspected to be the proceeds of drug trafficking, but no offence was proved. The magistrates had refused to return the money under the 1897 Act. The claimants now sought to reciver it under civil proceedings. Held: The judge was wrong to have found public policy grounds for refusing to order … Continue reading Webb v Chief Constable of Merseyside Police: CA 26 Nov 1999
A solicitor had acted for both purchaser and lender in a purchase transaction. The purchaser later sought to recover from the defendant for a negligent valuation. The solicitor had however discussed the issue with the plaintiff before the purchase, and he disclosed his note of the attendance on the plaintiff to the defendant. The note … Continue reading Goddard v Nationwide Building Society: CA 1986
ECJ Citizenship of the Union – Article 20 TFEU – Grant of right of residence under European Union law to a minor child on the territory of the Member State of which that child is a national, irrespective of the previous exercise by him of his right of free movement in the territory of the … Continue reading Ruiz Zambrano (European Citizenship): ECJ 8 Mar 2011
The court was asked as to the extent of the power of the IAT and Court of Appeal to reconsider a decision which it later appeared was based upon an error of fact, and the extent to which new evidence to demonstrate such an error could be admitted. Held: The view that appeals were restricted … Continue reading E v Secretary of State for the Home Department etc: CA 2 Feb 2004
It came to light that at the trial of the appellant that one juror was a current employee of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in general administrative duties, another was a serving police officer in an administrative and non-operational role, and a third was a former police officer who had retired in 2003. None of … Continue reading Regina v LL: CACD 2011
The applicant was serving a long sentence for serious offences. He had submitted several requests for ‘prison leave’ in order to carry out tasks in preparation for his eventual release. These had been refused by the Attorney General. The domestic courts in turn rejected his applications for judicial review on the ground that they had … Continue reading Boulois v Luxembourg: ECHR 14 Dec 2010
The two applicants complained that they had been held in solitary confinement for seven months after receipt of intelligence about an escape plan. Held: There had been a violation of the prisoners’ article 6 rights. They had been given no access to the courts: ‘the placement of the applicants in high-security cells led in particular, … Continue reading Stegarescu and Bahrin v Portugal: ECHR 6 Apr 2010
The applicant sought a declaration as to the lawfulness of a lottery scheme whilst criminal proceedings were pending against it for the same scheme. Held: It was not necessary to decide whether a declaration as to the criminality or otherwise of future conduct can ever properly be made by a civil court. It would be … Continue reading Imperial Tobacco Ltd v Attorney-General: HL 1980
(Scotland) By the 2014 Act, the Scottish Parliament had provided that each child should have a named person to monitor that child’s needs, with information about him or her shared as necessary. The Institute objected that the imposed obligation to share information was outwith the powers of the Parliament. It extended the information to be … Continue reading The Christian Institute and Others v The Lord Advocate: SC 28 Jul 2016
Judges: Lord Justice Pitchford Mr Justice Hickinbottom Hs Honour Judge Boney QC Citations: [2012] EWCA Crim 2430 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 2003 225 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 06 April 2022; Ref: scu.466967
Judges: Lady Justice Hallett DBE Mr Justice Ouseley His Honour Judge Pert QC (Sitting as a Judge of the Cacd) Citations: [2011] EWCA Crim 3321 Links: Bailii Statutes: Sexual Offences Act 2003 2 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 03 April 2022; Ref: scu.464762
The Crown was given leave to appeal what it saw to be an unduly lenient sentence of the defendant following his becoming liable to be sentenced as a repeat offender iunder the 2003 Act. The main offence was that he had threatened his partner’s life by pointing a loaded crossbow at her. The prosecution said … Continue reading Attorney General’s Reference No 87 of 2006, Regina v Daniel Peter Geddes: CACD 24 Oct 2006
Banker’s Liability for Negligent Reference The appellants were advertising agents. They were liable themselves for advertising space taken for a client, and had sought a financial reference from the defendant bankers to the client. The reference was negligent, but the bankers denied any assumption of a duty of care to a third party when purely … Continue reading Hedley Byrne and Co Ltd v Heller and Partners Ltd: HL 28 May 1963
Grand Chamber – The appellant claimed damages for being held in prison beyond the term of his sentence. Having been released on licence from a life sentence for murder, he was re-sentenced for a cheque fraud. He was not released after the end of the sentence he served for that offence. He said there was … Continue reading Stafford v The United Kingdom: ECHR 28 May 2002
Standing to Claim under A1P1 ECHR The appellants had written employers’ liability insurance policies. They appealed against rejection of their challenge to the 2009 Act which provided that asymptomatic pleural plaques, pleural thickening and asbestosis should constitute actionable harm for the purposes of an action of damages for personal injury. Held: The insurers’ appeals failed. … Continue reading AXA General Insurance Ltd and Others v Lord Advocate and Others: SC 12 Oct 2011
In each case the defendant sought to resist European Extradition Warrants saying that an order would be a disporportionate interference in their human right to family life. The Court asked whether its approach as set out in Norris, had to be amended in the light of the case of ZH. Held: HH and PH’s appeals … Continue reading HH v Deputy Prosecutor of The Italian Republic, Genoa: SC 20 Jun 2012
Mens Rea essential element of statutory Offence The appellant had been convicted under the Act 1965 of having been concerned in the management of premises used for smoking cannabis. This was a farmhouse which she visited infrequently. The prosecutor had conceded that she was unaware that the premises were used for that purpose. Held: The … Continue reading Sweet v Parsley: HL 23 Jan 1969
The Serious Fraud Office appealed against rulings on the admission of evidence after its exclusion under section 78. Held: The appeal was allowed. The appeal had been brought within time and could proceed. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The judge confused or elided two quite separate concepts, namely (a) the ‘identification’ principle which is … Continue reading A Ltd and Othersi, Regina v: CACD 28 Jul 2016
The appellant was detained under section 37 of the 1983 Act as a mental patient with a restriction under section 41. He sought his release. Held: The standard of proof in such applications remained the balance of probabilities, but that standard was flexible, and varied according to the seriousness of the allegation. The only misdirection … Continue reading AN, Regina (on the Application of) v Mental Health Review Tribunal (Northern Region) and others: CA 21 Dec 2005
In the context of an application for extradition, where the conviction was a ‘conviction for contumacy’ that phrase is not defined. It does not have an ordinary meaning in the English language. ‘Contumacy’ indicates insubordination or disobedience in the face of the court, but the concept of a ‘conviction for contumacy’ is something with which … Continue reading Regina v Governor of Pentonville Prison, ex parte Zezza: HL 1983
The appellant had been convicted of driving with excess alcohol. After complaints by the injured victim’s family he was further prosecuted for dangerous driving. He now appealed his conviction, having pleaded guilty when the judge failed to find an abuse of process. He asserted that the rule in R v Erlington should have prevented his … Continue reading Phipps, Regina v: CACD 14 Jan 2005
(Jamaica) The defendant had fatally stabbed a woman. On arrest, he admitted killing her and that he had the knife which he had used to do so. He gave the police officer a pouch containing a knife, on which blood of the same group as that of the deceased was found, and a jar containing … Continue reading Alexander Von Starck v The Queen: PC 28 Feb 2000
