The defendant appealed conviction and sentence of 25 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine. He had imported 196kg of cocaine. He said that his defence team had failed to put before the court evidence corroborating his own case which evidence was obtainable.
Held: ‘the fact that the jury ask a question does not necessarily mean that the matter or issue to which it relates is critical to the outcome of the trial.’ The evidence was either available and not presented, or unhelpful to the defendant. The appeal against conviction failed. The judge’s starting point of 25 years for supply of andpound;12 million pounds of cocaine was correct, and leave to appeal the sentence was refused.
Citations:
[2006] EWCA Crim 1947
Links:
Statutes:
Firearms Act 1968 52(1), Criminal Appeal Act 1968 23(2)
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Criminal Sentencing, Criminal Practice
Updated: 07 July 2022; Ref: scu.244000