Improperly/Illegally Obtained Evidence: Exclusionary Discretions x2

?
What was the UK's traditional position on such obtained evidence?
Admit any evidence (regardless of how it was obtained) + possibly punish rule-breaker
1 of 18
What is UK's current position on such obtained evidence?
Evidence might be excluded in court's discretion
2 of 18
What are the 2 extreme positions on illegally obtained evidence?
Always exclude it (due to loss of moral authority) vs. don't exclude it where it is reliable
3 of 18
Discretion no.1: common law - which provisions preserves them?
s.82(3) PACE
4 of 18
Does common law discretion allow you to exclude evidence that is more prejudicial than probative?
Yes: Christie
5 of 18
When common law discretion is used to exclude evidence in trials involving co-defendants, what do judges have to be careful about doing?
Not look as though they are taking sides: Lawson
6 of 18
Which discretion (no.2) can be used to exclude "unfair" prosecution evidence?
Court's discretion under s.78
7 of 18
What are 2 big issues with s.78 wording?
Meaning of fairness + discretion is as to whether to exclude it (not as to whether it is unfair to admit it)
8 of 18
When are CA reluctant to interfere with trial judge's discretion?
When powers have been properly exercised (even if different views are taken in very similar circumstances by different judges: Jelen)
9 of 18
There are 4 general principles which emerge on the exercise of s.78 statutory discretion - what are they?
(1) courts are readier to exclude improperly obtained evidence where breach of rule undermines liability
10 of 18
Give another of the general principles on exercise of statutory discretion
(2) courts are readier to exclude where authorities have deliberately flouted rules
11 of 18
Another general principle for s.78 exercise?
(3) bigger breaches are more significant than smaller breaches
12 of 18
Final general principle for s.78 discretion exercise?
(4) worse the crime, the less likely it is court will exclude evidence on basis of the way it was obtained
13 of 18
General principle (1): where was the reliability of evidence undermined? How was it undermined?
Delaney: failure to keep records + undercover officer was used
14 of 18
General principle (1): where was reliability of evidence affirmed, and why?
Christou (entrapment case): Ds applied themselves to the trick, rather than the trick being applied to Ds
15 of 18
Give an example of general principle (2)
Mason (case on confessions): police deliberately lied to solicitor when pretending they have fingerprint evidence linking D to crime scene
16 of 18
Give an example of general principle (4)
AG's Reference (No 3 of 1999): DNA was wrongly retained by police but this later linked D to **** (of which D was convicted using DNA) - evidence was admissible due to severity of crime
17 of 18
In which ECHR/Portuguese case was D's conviction quashed? And why?
Texeria de Castro: police had no reason to think D was a drug dealer before starting investigation + no judicial supervision to authorise investigation (as required by law)
18 of 18

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Evidence might be excluded in court's discretion

Back

What is UK's current position on such obtained evidence?

Card 3

Front

Always exclude it (due to loss of moral authority) vs. don't exclude it where it is reliable

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

s.82(3) PACE

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Yes: Christie

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Law resources:

See all Law resources »See all Criminal Procedure and Criminal Evidence resources »