The defendant appealed his conviction for murder. He complained at the admission of a statement made by the police surgeon who had attended him in the police station as evidence of bad character under the 2003 Act. The statement was as to his liability to snap if he had not taken medication. The defendant said … Continue reading Osbourne, Regina v: CACD 13 Mar 2007
The court considered the admission in evidence of social media messages. The defendant had been convicted of the murder of her violent boyfriend, and objected unsuccessfully to the admission of texts which she said were unduly prejudicial. Held: Such decisions were fact specific, and in this fact-specific case the judge was right in the conclusion … Continue reading Palmer, Regina v: CACD 6 Dec 2016
The court considered the admission of bad character evidence under the 2003 Act which was not clear. Rix LJ said: ‘In our judgment, however, the words of the statute ‘has to deal with’ are words of prima facie broad application, albeit constituting a phrase that has to be construed in the overall context of the … Continue reading McNeill, Regina v: CACD 6 Nov 2007
The defendant had been convicted of posing as a solicitor in order to commit frauds. He appealed, saying that the court had wrongly admitted evidence of his dealings with illegal immigrants. Held: The evidence admitted was highly relevant as evidence of bad character. The section has to be applied after a fact-specific exercise. The court … Continue reading Tirnaveanu, Regina v: CACD 24 May 2007
This appeal concerns the disputed admission, at a trial of the appellant for murder of his long-term partner, effectively his wife, of the evidence of his former girlfriend, Rosie Thorne, concerning their relationship some 20 years or so earlier. In the terms of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, this evidence was admitted as bad character … Continue reading Davis, Regina v: CACD 23 May 2008