Should Charged Suspects be Admitted to University
I appeared on BBC Scotland’s The Nine show with Gary Robertson on Thursday to discuss the case of convicted rapist Daniel McFarlane. He and his victim were studying together at the University of...
View ArticleDELILIAH AS PROVOCATION
I recently caught a very spirited radio discussion on the question of whether the Welsh Rugby Union should have banned its fans from singing the Tom Jones standard ‘Delilah’ at matches. Welsh...
View ArticleAnother Dead Woman
‘These are amongst the very worst crimes which have come before the High Court of Justiciary’. So said Lord Beckett on Monday 6th February 2023 before sentencing Andrew Innes to life imprisonment –...
View ArticleWhy Are Men Acquitted of Rape?
A common theme can be traced through my irregular appearances on radio and television. There is a perception that something has gone wrong in the Scottish criminal justice system. I am there – at the...
View ArticleThe ECHR – is it all that?
I have learned from experience – that when it comes to expressing views on social media in 2023 – it is usually wise to begin by making crystal clear what I am NOT saying. I am NOT saying that the...
View ArticleContempt of Court in Scotland in 2023
The recent arrest of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon predictably provoked widespread discussion of the Contempt of Court Act – as it applies in Scotland It came as a surprise to many that the...
View ArticleWhen Did Scotland become a Rogue Nation?
On Thursday 29th June 2023 Crown Office’s request to extradite RS for serious offences – alleged to have happened in Scotland in September 2021 – called before Mr Justice Paul McDermott in the High...
View ArticleThe ‘Sentencing Young People’ Guideline
Part 1 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 established the Scottish Sentencing Council, which became operational in October 2015. To promote consistency in sentencing practice...
View ArticleThe Case of Sean Hogg – What Went Wrong?
The recently decided – and widely reported – case of Sean Hogg has had so many twists and turns that it is not altogether easy to unravel what happened or what (if any) implications it has for future...
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‘Enhancing the Human Rights of the people of Scotland’? Do Us a Favour First...
I try to avoid criticism of political figures on social media – but like most people I can be provoked beyond endurance. This week First Minister Humza Yousaf attended an event at The University of...
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