News

Homicide cases fall 25% in a decade

The number of homicides across Scotland has fallen by 20 cases (25 per cent) since 2009/10. There were 61 victims of homicide recorded in 2018/19; two victims (or three per cent) more than the 59 recorded the previous year. Following the 59 cases in both 2015/16 and 2017/18, this is the…

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Dangerous driving conviction overturned after CCTV viewed by appeal court

A bus driver has successfully appealed his conviction after he was charged with dangerous driving because he ‘failed to leave a sufficient gap’ when driving past a parked van and pedestrian. At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Charles Alexander Henderson was convicted of a dangerous driving charge when it was ruled he drove…

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Man wins appeal against 'excessive' sentence for child grooming offences

A severely disabled man who was found guilty of sexual crimes against children and sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment has successfully appealed against a sheriff’s decision to impose a custodial sentence. The appellant ‘RC’ was born with spina bifida, has never had any sensation or movement below the waist and…

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Sexual offences court to be considered in Scotland

The creation of a court dedicated to sexual offences in Scotland is currently under review, judge Lord Matthews has announced. Led by Scotland’s second most senior judge, Lady Dorrian, the review group will look at how the country deals with rape and violent sexual crimes. According to a spokesperson for…

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Motorist filming road traffic accident wins appeal

A motorist who was found guilty of using a mobile phone to film the aftermath of a road traffic accident from behind the wheel of his VW Caravelle has had his conviction quashed following an appeal. On 19th August 2017, Ramsey Barreto was caught using his phone while driving past…

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