Williams-Rigby & Anor, R v [2003] EWCA Crim 693 (14 March 2003)

Williams-Rigby & Anor, R v [2003] EWCA Crim 693 (14 March 2003)

The convictions of Williams-Rigby were unsafe due to credible fresh evidence undermining key complainants, which could have affected the jury's verdict. Lawson's convictions were unsafe due to the cumulative prejudicial effect of the Scene 22 document, the threat to admit Williams-Rigby's now-unsafe convictions, and fresh evidence undermining a key complainant, all of which could have distorted the fairness of the trial.

Citation
[2003] EWCA Crim 693
Parties
Prosecution: R; Appellant: Basil Anthony Williams-Rigby; Appellant: Michael James Lawson
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
14 March 2003
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Court of Appeal (criminal Division) Judgment on Appeal Against Conviction
Outcome
Appeals allowed; convictions quashed; no retrial ordered.
Legal Topics
Sexual Offences, Fresh Evidence on Appeal, Good Character Direction, Similar Fact Evidence, Admissibility of Prior Convictions, Fair Trial, Compensation Claims and Witness Credibility
Criminal Law Sexual Offences Fresh Evidence on Appeal Good Character Direction Similar Fact Evidence Admissibility of Prior Convictions Fair Trial Compensation Claims and Witness Credibility

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 4 Authorities cited 6 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 5
Sign in to unlock

Parties

R

Prosecution

Basil Anthony Williams-Rigby

Appellant

Michael James Lawson

Appellant

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Court of Appeal (criminal Division) Judgment on Appeal Against Conviction

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether fresh evidence renders convictions unsafe
  2. 2 Whether the trial judge's directions on good character and similar fact evidence were adequate
  3. 3 Whether the use of prior convictions and Scene 22 document prejudiced the fairness of the trial

Ratio Decidendi

The convictions of Williams-Rigby were unsafe due to credible fresh evidence undermining key complainants, which could have affected the jury's verdict. Lawson's convictions were unsafe due to the cumulative prejudicial effect of the Scene 22 document, the threat to admit Williams-Rigby's now-unsafe convictions, and fresh evidence undermining a key complainant, all of which could have distorted the fairness of the trial.

Court Disposition

Appeals allowed; convictions quashed; no retrial ordered.

Orders

  • Convictions of Basil Anthony Williams-Rigby quashed.
  • Convictions of Michael James Lawson quashed.