Dealing with a loved one’s death is hard enough; without trying to work out the legal complications in dealing with their estate and what Probate actually means. Most people have heard the word but are not entirely sure when it applies, whether they need legal help or how long the whole process takes. We aim… Continue reading When is a Probate Solicitor Needed And How Long Does It Take?
Domestic abusers who kill their partners or ex-partners will receive tougher sentences under government plans published this week. The law will be changed so a history of coercive or controlling behaviour against the victim or the use of excessive or gratuitous violence are made aggravating factors in sentencing decisions for murder. It means some defendants… Continue reading Government Plans Murder & Manslaughter Sentencing Reforms
Section 174: Standard of proof On 29th November 2022, section 174 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 came into force, making a substantial legal change concerning the making of Sexual Harm Prevention Orders. Section 174 amends sections 103A(3) and 122A(6) of the 2003 Act to provide that the court when considering an… Continue reading Sexual Harm Prevention Orders – Recent Changes
In 2016 the Supreme Court held that the joint enterprise laws needed revisiting, holding that previous cases were wrongly decided: ‘The unanimous conclusion of the court is that Chan Wing-Siu and Powell and English did take a wrong turning and these appeals should therefore be allowed.’ At the time, it was felt that this ruling would lead to many… Continue reading Joint Enterprise – Another Wrong Turn?
In a recent case (Spivey [2022] EWCA Crim 997) a Judge was faced with offenders who had just turned 18 years of age. When sentencing, he made the following observation: “I do have in mind the guidelines in relation to sentencing children and young people.” However, he concluded that as one of the appellants was… Continue reading Age and Sentencing
