England and Wales Case Commentaries

Clark v Elbanna: Clarifying the Overlap of Recklessness and Negligence in Contact-Sport Injuries

Date: Jun 25, 2025

Clark v Elbanna: Clarifying the Overlap of Recklessness and Negligence in Contact-Sport Injuries 1. Introduction In Clark v Elbanna ([2025] EWCA Civ 776) the Court of Appeal was asked to revisit the...

“Reasonable Lines of Inquiry” Re-affirmed: BTC, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 902)

Date: Jun 25, 2025

“Reasonable Lines of Inquiry” Re-affirmed: The Court of Appeal Clarifies Prosecution and Defence Duties in Child-Sex Cases – A Commentary on BTC, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 902) Introduction In BTC, R. v...

R v Larkin [2025] EWCA Crim 1222: Reaffirming the “One Starting Point” Rule and Clarifying Category 1 Harm in Coercive Control Sentencing

Date: Jun 25, 2025

R v Larkin [2025] EWCA Crim 1222: Reaffirming the “One Starting Point” Rule and Clarifying Category 1 Harm in Coercive Control Sentencing Introduction This commentary examines the Court of Appeal...

R v WAG: Court of Appeal Clarifies the “Lead-Offence” Method and the Need for Discrete Sentences When Dealing with Multiple Sexual Offences

Date: Jun 25, 2025

R v WAG: Court of Appeal Clarifies the “Lead-Offence” Method and the Need for Discrete Sentences When Dealing with Multiple Sexual Offences Introduction In WAG, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 968) the...

“Specific Terrorist Activity” Redefined: A Commentary on Niinemae v R [2025] EWCA Crim 984

Date: Jun 25, 2025

“Specific Terrorist Activity” Redefined: A Commentary on Niinemae v R [2025] EWCA Crim 984 Introduction The Court of Appeal’s decision in Niinemae v R provides the most authoritative guidance to date...

Ibrahim v Rex ([2025] EWCA Crim 983): Refocusing Adverse-Inference Directions on Defence Case Statements

Date: Jun 24, 2025

Ibrahim v Rex ([2025] EWCA Crim 983): Refocusing Adverse-Inference Directions on Defence Case Statements Introduction The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) has delivered an important decision...

R v Hawe [2025] EWCA Crim 1101: Remand Custody, Community Orders and the Prohibition on Double Punishment

Date: Jun 21, 2025

R v Hawe [2025] EWCA Crim 1101: Remand Custody, Community Orders and the Prohibition on Double Punishment I. Introduction The decision in R v Hawe [2025] EWCA Crim 1101 is an important sentencing...

“From ‘Open Price’ to ‘Market Price’: KSY Juice Blends UK Ltd v Citrosuco GmbH and the Revival of Reasonable-Price Implied Terms”

Date: Jun 20, 2025

From “Open Price” to “Market Price”: KSY Juice Blends UK Ltd v Citrosuco GmbH ([2025] EWCA Civ 760) Introduction The Court of Appeal’s decision in KSY Juice Blends UK Ltd v Citrosuco GmbH tackles a...

Reaffirming the Multi-Factorial Test for Extended Disclosure under PD 57AD – Comment on AmTrust Specialty Ltd v Endurance Worldwide Insurance Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 755

Date: Jun 20, 2025

Reaffirming the Multi-Factorial Test for Extended Disclosure under PD 57AD Commentary on AmTrust Specialty Ltd v Endurance Worldwide Insurance Ltd (t/a Sompo International) [2025] EWCA Civ 755 1....

“From Intermediaries to Hearsay” – Claffey & Roach and the Re-drawing of the Bad-Character / Investigation Boundary

Date: Jun 20, 2025

“From Intermediaries to Hearsay” – How Claffey, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 852) Clarifies the Scope of s.98(b) CJA 2003 and the Threshold for Self-Defence Directions Introduction Claffey, R. v and Roach,...

R v Davis [2025] EWCA Crim 916 – Clarifying the Totality Guideline in Unduly Lenient Sentence References for Historic Child-Sex Offences

Date: Jun 20, 2025

R v Davis [2025] EWCA Crim 916 – Clarifying the Totality Guideline in Unduly Lenient Sentence References for Historic Child-Sex Offences Introduction This commentary examines the Court of Appeal...

R v Youssefi [2025] EWCA Crim 899: The Duty to “Step Back” Under the Totality Guideline When Imposing Consecutive Sentences

Date: Jun 20, 2025

R v Youssefi [2025] EWCA Crim 899: The Duty to “Step Back” Under the Totality Guideline When Imposing Consecutive Sentences 1. Introduction The decision in R v Youssefi [2025] EWCA Crim 899 is a...

Fernandez: Re-asserting Judicial Discretion in Culpability Assessment for “Causing Death by Careless Driving while Under the Influence”

Date: Jun 19, 2025

Fernandez: Re-asserting Judicial Discretion in Culpability Assessment for “Causing Death by Careless Driving while Under the Influence” Introduction Fernandez, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 907) is a Court...

R v Hope (2025): When No Voluntary Desistance, There Is No Presumption of a Lower Sentence for Attempted Offences

Date: Jun 19, 2025

R v Hope (2025): When No Voluntary Desistance, There Is No Presumption of a Lower Sentence for Attempted Offences 1. Introduction R v Hope ([2025] EWCA Crim 855) required the Court of Appeal...

Suitability without Preconditions: The Section 189A Clarification in Norton v London Borough of Haringey

Date: Jun 18, 2025

Suitability without Preconditions: The Section 189A Clarification in Norton v London Borough of Haringey 1. Introduction In Norton v London Borough of Haringey ([2025] EWCA Civ 746) the Court of...

Re-emphasising Holistic Risk Evaluation and Adequate Reason-Giving in Care Proceedings: Commentary on H (Care Proceedings: Risk Assessment) [2025] EWCA Civ 727

Date: Jun 18, 2025

Re-emphasising Holistic Risk Evaluation and Adequate Reason-Giving in Care Proceedings: Commentary on H (Care Proceedings: Risk Assessment) [2025] EWCA Civ 727 1. Introduction The Court of Appeal’s...

Getty Images v Stability AI – Court of Appeal Affirms that Specific Particulars Narrow Broad Pleadings and Bar Late Introduction of Un-pleaded Allegations

Date: Jun 18, 2025

Getty Images (US), Inc. & Ors v Stability AI Ltd – Court of Appeal Affirms that Specific Particulars Narrow Broad Pleadings and Bar Late Introduction of Un-pleaded Allegations Introduction Getty...

“The BMJ Principle” – Judicial Limits on Positive Conclusive Grounds Decisions and the Public-Interest Test in Modern-Slavery Related Prosecutions

Date: Jun 18, 2025

“The BMJ Principle” – Judicial Limits on Positive Conclusive Grounds Decisions and the Public-Interest Test in Modern-Slavery Related Prosecutions Introduction BMJ v Rex ([2025] EWCA Crim 716) is a...

R v Mir: Court of Appeal Endorses Robust Upward Adjustments for Multi-Drug EncroChat Conspiracies under the Totality Principle

Date: Jun 18, 2025

R v Mir: Court of Appeal Endorses Robust Upward Adjustments for Multi-Drug EncroChat Conspiracies under the Totality Principle Introduction The decision in Mir, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 853) concerns...

R v Musgrove [2025] EWCA Crim 1202: Gambling Disorder, ADHD and the Duty to Apply the Mental Disorders Sentencing Guideline

Date: Jun 18, 2025

R v Musgrove [2025] EWCA Crim 1202: Gambling Disorder, ADHD and the Duty to Apply the Mental Disorders Sentencing Guideline 1. Introduction This commentary examines the judgment of the Court of...