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Criminal evidence – Appeal – Fresh evidence. High Court of Justiciary: Allowing an appeal by an appellant who was convicted, inter alia, of murder by smothering and attempting to defeat the ends of justice, the court held that potentially significant fresh evidence was available from a neuropathologist, offering for the first time moderate head injury as a positive contributing cause of the deceased's death—ie as direct alternative to smothering; that a reasonable explanation of why that evidence was not heard at the trial had been made out; and that had the new evidence been available at the trial there would have been a real possibility of a different verdict being returned.
Criminal evidence – Appeal – Fresh evidence. High Court of Justiciary: Allowing an appeal by an appellant who was convicted, inter alia, of murder by smothering and attempting to defeat the ends of justice, the court held that potentially significant fresh evidence was available from a neuropathologist, offering for the first time moderate head injury as a positive contributing cause of the deceased's death—ie as direct alternative to smothering; that a reasonable explanation of why that evidence was not heard at the trial had been made out; and that had the new evidence been available at the trial there would have been a real possibility of a different verdict being returned.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Susie Griffin on the admin that keeps barristers from billable work
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
In an era of patient-centred care and growing concern over misconduct in medical settings, why do women still lack the right to choose women consultants for examination and treatment? Charles Davey investigates
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
