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20 April 2007 / Andrew Keogh
Issue: 7269 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice
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Crime brief

Criminal Justice Act 2003 - Dangerous and confused? Bad character - identification issues and harsh words, Drink, guns and mobile phones, Pre-charge bail powers

Bad character

R v Eastlake [2007] EWCA Crim 603

Evidence of bad character relating to street violence was admissible to show propensity in a case involving two allegations of violence (one section 20 the other section 47 OAPA 1861) where identification was at issue in relation to each offence.

R v Osbourne [2007] EWCA Crim 481, [2007] All ER (D) 206 (Mar)

O stood trial for murder. At the trial the prosecution admitted evidence that O had in the past been aggressive to, and shouted at, his partner in relation to the care of a child.

Held

That evidence ought not to have been admitted as it did not qualify as reprehensible behaviour under Criminal Justice Act 2003, s 112. The court observed: “Shouting between partners over the care of a very young child is not of course to be commended but in the context of a charge of

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Gateley Legal—Caroline Pope & Bob Maynard

Gateley Legal—Caroline Pope & Bob Maynard

Construction team bolstered by hire of senior consultant duo

Switalskis—four appointments

Switalskis—four appointments

Firm expands residential conveyancing team with quadruple appointment

mfg Solicitors—Claire Pope

mfg Solicitors—Claire Pope

Private client team welcomes senior associatein Worcester

NEWS
The controversial Mazur ruling, which caused widespread uncertainty about the role of non-solicitors in litigation work, has been overturned on appeal
Two landmark social media cases in the US could influence social media regulation in the UK, lawyers predict
Barristers have urged the government to set up Nightingale-style specialist courts, with jury trials, to prioritise rape, sexual assault and domestic abuse trials
Victims of violent crimes who suffer life-changing injuries receive less than half the financial support today than those in the 1990s, according to a senior personal injury lawyer
Rising numbers of cases, an increase in litigants in person and an overall lack of investment is piling pressure on the family court, the Law Society has warned
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