Open AccessR v A [2012] EWCA Crim 434
Author(s) -
Susan Edwards
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
denning law journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2047-2765
pISSN - 0269-1922
DOI - 10.5750/dlj.v24i1.395
Subject(s) - conviction , appeal , law , allegation , supreme court , sentence , political science , economic justice , prison , criminology , judgement , seriousness , sociology , philosophy , linguistics
THE CRIME OF RETRACTING A TRUTHFUL STATEMENTOn 13th March 2012, the Court of Appeal delivered its reserved judgement in R v A,1 an appeal against conviction for the offence of perverting the course of justice. The appellant had made allegations of multiple rape and domestic violence perpetrated against her by her husband, allegations she later withdrew, thereby giving rise to the charge of and subsequent conviction for perverting the course of justice. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction. This was the second time this appellant‘s case had been referred on appeal, the Court having already heard an appeal against sentence on 23rd November 2010, when it quashed a prison sentence of eight months, and substituted a community sentence and supervision order. Whilst justice has prevailed and corrected the error of the draconian sentence, the conviction for perverting the course of justice following the retraction of a truthful allegation because of fear and pressure still stands. At present the case is being appealed further to the Supreme Court.