The director of public prosecutions has called into question the age of criminal responsibility amid fears too many children are facing adult justice.

Thank you to Sam Barker of 2 Harcourt Buildings, instructed by Wessex Solicitors who secured a unanimous acquittal at Southampton Crown Court for a 23 year old male of good character on counts of Rape and Attempted Rape. The case involved defence toxicological evidence of the effects of Ecstasy and alcohol on the memories of the complainant.  Wessex Solicitors instructed Mrs. Victoria Jenkins BSc(Hons) CBiol, Forensic Toxicologist from BioMark Forensics to give expert evidence in respect of this issue.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service is developing a ‘limited pilot scheme’ to test court users for Covid-19, as outbreaks of the virus continue to disrupt trials.

"We have now entered lockdown for the third time. The courts and tribunals must continue to function. The position remains that attendance in person where necessary is permitted under the proposed new regulations. This would include jurors, witnesses, and other professionals, who count as key workers. HMCTS will continue to put in place precautionary measures in accordance with Public Health England and Public Health Wales guidelines to minimise risk. All those attending court must abide by guidance concerning social distancing, hand washing, wearing masks etc. Judges and magistrates will have a role in making sure this happens.

Following a three week trial at Portsmouth Crown Court involving over 30,000 pages of served evidence, Counsel James Caldwell secures the ‘not guilty’ verdict of a man accused of a £310,000 VAT fraud against HMRC.  Instructed by Wessex Solicitors Mr Caldwell painstakingly examined every detail and managed to challenge the prosecution case at every turn.   Wessex Solicitors also instructed Fiona Marsh BSc MSc Forensic Scientist through Biomark Forensics to analyse handwriting and conclude that the documents provided in evidence were in fact forged which was essential to the defence case and assisted in securing the ‘not guilty’ verdict.

The criminal justice system will ‘relapse’ without more investment, the Bar Council said today, as the Crown court backlog continues to swell and cases take longer to complete.