The defendants appealed their convictions for assault. They complained that the judge had wrongly allowed one defendant to be cross examined as to her previous convictions, and that this had undermined the second defendant also. Held: The questioning should not have been allowed, and both convictions were quashed. Judges: Evans LJ, Cresswell J, Butterfield J … Continue reading Regina v O: CACD 25 Sep 1996

A defendant was not to be asked about any previous convictions, unless he had ‘lost his shield’ and incurred liability to such cross-examination by putting his own character in issue, either by putting questions or giving evidence with a view to establish his good character or if he attacked the character of the prosecution witnesses. … Continue reading Regina v Selvey: HL 1970