Court of Appeal quashes indeterminate sentences in landmark case

Following a two day hearing, the Court of Appeal Criminal Division ruled that in five conjoined cases indeterminate sentences for public protection should not have been imposed, ordering the appellants’ immediate release. Two of the appellants were aged under 18 at the time of their sentence and three were under 21.  The cases date back to between 2006 and 2010. Farrhat Arshad KC acted as leading counsel for all five appellants (instructed by the Registrar of Criminal Appeals) and for T. Hayley Douglas acted for M and Hayley Douglas and Pippa Woodrow acted for W. 

Farrhat was instructed by Natalie Shotter and Danielle Sheridan of Tuckers solicitors for T.  For W, Hayley and Pippa were instructed by Dr Laura Janes KC (Hon) of GT Stewart Solicitors. For M, Hayley was instructed by Registrar of Criminal Appeals.