The case concerned the approach to be taken by the trial judge where a jury-in-retirement ask to see again some or all of a complainant’s video-recorded evidence-in-chief. The CACD emphasised once again the potential importance of a witness’s demeanour.

ADDED Monday 26^th September 2022

Where a driver used his mobile phone to change music tracks on the sound system of his moving vehicle via Bluetooth, the court considered whether that was an interactive communication with another device and an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988.

ADDED Friday 2^nd September 2022

Where a defendant had been convicted of murdering his older male lover for his inheritance, the court considered the circumstances in which an appellant can seek to re-open a concluded appeal and can properly advance grounds of procedural unfairness and bias.

ADDED Wednesday 31^st August 2022

A claim for harassment brought by the ex-mistress of the former King of Spain prompted the court to examine the doctrine of state immunity and, in particular, the ambit of personal immunity and functional immunity under the State Immunity Act 1978.

ADDED Wednesday 24^th August 2022

When an alleged informant to MI5 perpetrated violent and coercive behaviour against two female lovers, the court considered the often competing public interests of national security and freedom of expression regarding issues of general public concern.

ADDED Friday 19^th August 2022

In the case of a defendant who had kidnapped and tortured a man he thought was an informant, the CACD considered how time spent on remand in custody is to be treated when the Crown Court imposes a discretionary life sentence with a minimum term order.

ADDED Friday 24^th June 2022

In the case of a prisoner serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife and two children, the court considered the lawfulness of the Parole Board’s policy on supplying a summary of the reasons for their decision to the victims' family and the media.

ADDED Wednesday 15^th June 2022

On charges of attempted murder, was the defence of insanity available to a psychotic and deluded defendant, who knew his actions were against the law and morally wrong but believed he was possessed by the devil and was compelled to commit the offences?

ADDED Monday 6^th June 2022

Can a distinction properly be drawn between the actions of a requested person, who has done everything reasonably possible to give notice of appeal against an extradition order within the permitted time limit, and the actions of his lawyer, who has not?

ADDED Wednesday 1^st June 2022

The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) considered whether a police officer, being a servant of the Crown, was exempted from the statutory provisions criminalising the possession of offensive weapons, even when he was not acting in an official capacity.

ADDED Monday 30^th May 2022