R v Albert Asanaj & Anor

R v Albert Asanaj & Anor

No Newton hearing took place for Albert or Granit Asanaj because there were no factual disputes requiring evidence to be litigated; the judge sentenced on the basis of agreed facts and submissions, not contested evidence. The mere presence of the defendants or their advocates during the opening of the case or evidence for co-defendants does not transform the hearing into a Newton hearing for their cases.

Parties
Defendant: Albert Asanaj; Defendant: Granit Asanaj; Prosecution: The Crown
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
02 December 2026
Procedural Posture
Criminal Costs Appeal / Appeal From Determining Officer Under Regulation 29 of the Criminal Legal Aid (remuneration) Regulations 2013
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Legal Aid Remuneration, Newton Hearings, Graduated Fees, Sentencing Procedure
Criminal Law Legal Costs Legal Aid Remuneration Newton Hearings Graduated Fees Sentencing Procedure

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Parties

Albert Asanaj

Defendant

Granit Asanaj

Defendant

The Crown

Prosecution

Procedural Posture

Criminal Costs Appeal / Appeal From Determining Officer Under Regulation 29 of the Criminal Legal Aid (remuneration) Regulations 2013

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the hearings for Albert and Granit Asanaj constituted Newton hearings for the purposes of graduated fee entitlement under the Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013.

Ratio Decidendi

No Newton hearing took place for Albert or Granit Asanaj because there were no factual disputes requiring evidence to be litigated; the judge sentenced on the basis of agreed facts and submissions, not contested evidence. The mere presence of the defendants or their advocates during the opening of the case or evidence for co-defendants does not transform the hearing into a Newton hearing for their cases.

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • Appeals by Butts solicitors, Woolfe Law solicitors, and Daniel Taylor dismissed.