Criminal evidence – Hearsay. The Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, dismissed the defendant's appeal against conviction in relation to three offences, comprising blackmail, common assault and violent disorder. There had not been any procedural defect by the judge such as to render it unfair for him to have taken the decision he had to admit the complainant's statements, pursuant to s 116(2)(e) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, without any oral evidence being given by the witness.