Insights

A 72-year-old man has been found guilty of importing a child sex doll after a judge made a landmark ruling that the doll was indecent or obscene.

In a significant endorsement of the English approach to CCTV evidence by the Scottish courts, appeals by two men convicted of rape and sexual assault at the High Court of Justiciary in Aberdeen in April 2016 have been refused by the Appeals Court in Edinburgh. 

June 2017 saw the publication of a joint report by the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) following an inspection into the disclosure to the defence of unused material in volume Court cases. Its’ title ‘Making it Fair’ speaks volumes and sets the tone for the report which highlights fundamental flaws in the system which I, as a proactive defence barrister of 30 years standing, along with those who instruct me, have known for many years. 

I am delighted to have been accepted as an invitee on the 'training for counsel’ course for enlisted counsel who may be instructed to appear before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

I am extremely honoured to have the opportunity to be admitted onto the International Criminal Court List of Counsel. Those entitled to legal assistance can choose counsel from this List, or another counsel who meets the criteria and is willing to be included in the List. The Counsel members can be called upon at any time to provide legal assistance in relation to proceedings before the Court to the persons concerned, whether as duty counsel, ad hoc counsel, defence counsel or as defendant’s legal representatives.