England and Wales Case Commentaries

“Extending Propensity: R v Blackman [2025] EWCA Crim 965 and the Admissibility of Dated Juvenile Drug-Supply Convictions”

Date: Jul 4, 2025

Extending Propensity: R v Blackman [2025] EWCA Crim 965 and the Admissibility of Dated Juvenile Drug-Supply Convictions 1. Introduction R v Blackman is a 2025 judgment of the Court of Appeal...

Fareed v R – Clarifying the Admission of “Relatively Minor” Bad-Character Evidence to Correct a False Impression

Date: Jul 3, 2025

Fareed v R [2025] EWCA Crim 1063: Guidance on “Relatively Minor” Bad-Character Evidence Admitted to Correct a False Impression Court: Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), England & Wales Date of...

“The Burton Principle”: Choosing the Correct Modern Guideline for Historic Child-Sexual Offences

Date: Jul 3, 2025

“The Burton Principle”: Choosing the Correct Modern Guideline for Historic Child-Sexual Offences 1. Introduction In Burton, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 950) the England and Wales Court of Appeal (Criminal...

The “McDonagh Principle”: Actual Serious Harm Elevates Robbery to Category B1 Regardless of Foreseeability

Date: Jul 2, 2025

The “McDonagh Principle”: Actual Serious Harm Elevates Robbery to Category B1 Regardless of Foreseeability 1. Introduction McDonagh, R v ([2025] EWCA Crim 953) is a Court of Appeal (Criminal...

The Ahmed Principle: Extending the “Actual-Harm” Test to Firearms Offences within the Sentencing Guidelines

Date: Jul 2, 2025

The Ahmed Principle: Extending the “Actual-Harm” Test to Firearms Offences within the Sentencing Guidelines 1. Introduction Ahmed, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 943) concerns an application for leave to...

Expanding “Abuse of Trust” in Sentencing: The Precedential Effect of R v Glover-Stuart ([2025] EWCA Crim 1013)

Date: Jul 2, 2025

Expanding “Abuse of Trust” in Sentencing: The Precedential Effect of R v Glover-Stuart ([2025] EWCA Crim 1013) 1. Introduction The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in R v Glover-Stuart addressed a...

R v Clark [2025] EWCA Crim 931 – Disposal of the Weapon as an Independent Aggravating Factor and Administrative Correction of Youth Sentencing Defects

Date: Jul 2, 2025

R v Clark [2025] EWCA Crim 931 Disposal of the Weapon as an Independent Aggravating Factor and Administrative Correction of Youth Sentencing Defects Introduction R v Clark is a renewed application...

The “Frontier-Science” Threshold: Campbell (aka Norris) v R ([2025] EWCA Crim 795)

Date: Jun 30, 2025

The “Frontier-Science” Threshold: Campbell (aka Norris) v R ([2025] EWCA Crim 795) 1. Introduction Campbell (formerly Colin Norris) was convicted in 2008 of murdering four elderly hospital patients...

“Ten Years as an EU Citizen”: The New Threshold for Enhanced Protection from Deportation – Commentary on Secretary of State for the Home Department v Borges [2025] EWCA Civ 784

Date: Jun 30, 2025

“Ten Years as an EU Citizen”: The New Threshold for Enhanced Protection from Deportation Commentary on Secretary of State for the Home Department v Borges [2025] EWCA Civ 784 I. Introduction The...

“Connection Not Causation” – Court of Appeal Clarifies Part 7A ITEPA 2003 in Marlborough DP Ltd v HMRC

Date: Jun 30, 2025

“Connection Not Causation”: The Court of Appeal’s Authoritative Construction of s 554A ITEPA 2003 in Marlborough DP Ltd v HMRC [2025] EWCA Civ 796 1. Introduction The England & Wales Court of Appeal...

The Karpasitis Principle: Highway Authorities’ Duty of Care for Grass Verges and the Evidential Limits of the Section 58 Defence

Date: Jun 30, 2025

The Karpasitis Principle: Highway Authorities’ Duty of Care for Grass Verges and the Evidential Limits of the Section 58 Defence 1. Introduction Karpasitis v Hertfordshire County Council ([2025] EWCA...

R v Usherwood & Others [2025] EWCA Crim 920: Protecting Criminal Commerce Counts as “Gain” — Schedule 21 Starting Points for Organised Crime Murders Clarified

Date: Jun 28, 2025

R v Usherwood & Others [2025] EWCA Crim 920: Protecting Criminal Commerce Counts as “Gain” — Schedule 21 Starting Points for Organised Crime Murders Clarified Introduction This commentary examines...

Sentencing for Assaults on Emergency Workers: Duty to Articulate Uplifts and Focus on Totality – Commentary on R v Jenkins [2025] EWCA Crim 1018

Date: Jun 28, 2025

Sentencing for Assaults on Emergency Workers: Duty to Articulate Uplifts and Focus on Totality – Commentary on R v Jenkins [2025] EWCA Crim 1018 1. Introduction This commentary examines the decision...

“Substantial Probative Value” Re-affirmed: Hartley, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 904) and the Elevated Threshold for Non-Defendant Bad-Character Evidence

Date: Jun 28, 2025

“Substantial Probative Value” Re-affirmed: Hartley, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 904) and the Elevated Threshold for Non-Defendant Bad-Character Evidence Introduction In Hartley, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim...

When “Due Regard” Can Be Inferred: PSED Compliance and the Lawfulness of a Six‑Week Consultation on an Equality Act Statutory Code

Date: Jun 27, 2025

When “Due Regard” Can Be Inferred: PSED Compliance and the Lawfulness of a Six‑Week Consultation on an Equality Act Statutory Code 1. Introduction National Council for Civil Liberties (Liberty) v...

Immediate Custody Without Explicit Reference to the Imposition Guideline: Commentary on R v Saleh & Hussain [2025] EWCA Crim 1025

Date: Jun 27, 2025

Immediate Custody Without Explicit Reference to the Imposition Guideline: Commentary on R v Saleh & Hussain [2025] EWCA Crim 1025 Introduction The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), in R v Saleh &...

No Automatic Stay of Civil Contempt for Parallel Criminal Charges – The Turner v Coates Doctrine

Date: Jun 26, 2025

No Automatic Stay of Civil Contempt for Parallel Criminal Charges – The Turner v Coates Doctrine 1. Introduction Case: Turner & Anor v Coates [2025] EWCA Civ 782 Court: England and Wales Court of...

Extending Statutory Minimum Sentences to Firearm-Related Conspiracies: Commentary on R v Singh & Ors [2025] EWCA Crim 785

Date: Jun 25, 2025

Extending Statutory Minimum Sentences to Firearm-Related Conspiracies: A Detailed Commentary on R v Singh & Others [2025] EWCA Crim 785 Introduction In R v Singh & Ors, the Court of Appeal (Criminal...

Early Termination Rights and the Modern Meaning of “Financial Institution” in Aircraft JOLCO Structures – Commentary on VietJet Aviation Joint Stock Company v FW Aviation (Holdings) 1 Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 783

Date: Jun 25, 2025

Early Termination Rights and the Modern Meaning of “Financial Institution” in Aircraft JOLCO Structures – Commentary on VietJet Aviation JSC v FW Aviation (Holdings) 1 Ltd ([2025] EWCA Civ 783) 1....

From Portal to Courtroom: The Court of Appeal Confirms Case-Management Jurisdiction over Pre-Action Protocol Compliance once Protective Part 8 Proceedings are Issued – Commentary on MH Site Maintenance Services Ltd & Anor v Watson [2025] EWCA Civ 775

Date: Jun 25, 2025

From Portal to Courtroom: The Court of Appeal Confirms Case-Management Jurisdiction over Pre-Action Protocol Compliance once Protective Part 8 Proceedings are Issued – Commentary on MH Site...