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Criminal law – Indecent assault. The defendant appealed against his conviction for indecent assault on a male aged under 16 years, alleging that the verdict had been inconsistent with his acquittals for further child sex offences and that the judge had erred in giving a Watson direction (see R v Watson[1988] 1 All ER 897). The Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, in allowing the appeal, held that the test for inconsistent verdicts was satisfied. Further, the circumstances of the case had not made it exceptional such as to require a Watson direction as a last resort.
Criminal law – Indecent assault. The defendant appealed against his conviction for indecent assault on a male aged under 16 years, alleging that the verdict had been inconsistent with his acquittals for further child sex offences and that the judge had erred in giving a Watson direction (see R v Watson[1988] 1 All ER 897). The Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, in allowing the appeal, held that the test for inconsistent verdicts was satisfied. Further, the circumstances of the case had not made it exceptional such as to require a Watson direction as a last resort.
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