Gang member, Christopher Hughes, has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 25 years for his involvement in the murder of Martin Kok.  Hughes was with the now deceased when he was shot outside the Boccaccio Club in Holland on the 8th of December 2016. Evidence was led [...]

Counsel for the appellant argued that the trial judge had erred in directing the jury on a number of key points during the trial. This included details on how certain evidence could and could not be used to corroborate one another. The appellants and the complainer had spent time in [...]

Williamson [2021] FAI 34 A fatal accident inquiry has determined that a prisoner who died of a drug overdose following sentencing did not die as a result of an accident that could have been prevented by prison authorities.  Gavin Williamson died in HMP Perth in June 2018 after he took [...]

Procurator Fiscal, Selkirk v LM 2021 SAC (Crim) 5 An appeal by the Crown against a decision to uphold a no case to answer submission has succeeded in the Sheriff Appeal Court, paving the way for a new prosecution. The respondent, LM, had not been convicted at trial following a [...]

Singh v Scottish Ministers [2021] CSOH 57 A prisoner serving a seven-year sentence for sexual offences has failed in his attempt to challenge a decision by the Scottish Ministers to refuse his release on license. Harpreet Singh, an Indian citizen who was subject to a deportation order, attempted to argue [...]

Dines v HM Advocate [2021] HCJAC 29 The High Court of the Justiciary Appeal Court has refused an appeal against conviction launched by a man who claimed that he stabbed a man five times in self-defence. The appellant, Aaron Dines, was convicted in 2019 of striking the complainer with a [...]

Kelly v Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission [2021] CSOH 51 The Court of Session has refused the petition of a prisoner who sought to have his case reviewed by the SCCRC. The petitioner, Mr Kelly, was convicted in 2019 of multiple sexual offences against children dating back to the early [...]

Dewar and McLean v HM Advocate [2021] HCJAC 29 Following an appeal heard by the Appeal Court at the High Court of the Justiciary,  the appellants - Gordon Dewar and Gary McLean - have had their sentences reduced. The Appellants appeared at Perth Sheriff Court in February 2021, where they [...]

Wilson v PF [2021] SAC 4 Andrew Wilson was convicted under section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1998, following an incident where he collided with the central reservation after falling asleep behind the wheel. During his arrest, Mr Wilson told police officers that he “dosed off”. This formed the [...]

Petition of Brian Hands Against The Parole Board of Scotland [2021] CSOH 42 A man sentenced to life in prison who was granted community access before being returned to prison has lost a challenge against a subsequent decision by the Parole Board not to release him. The case was heard [...]