On 18th May, the Divisional Court allowed an appeal by way of Case Stated relating to the sufficiency of reasons given to found a conviction in summary proceedings. David Williams instructed by John Moleskog of McMillan Williams Solicitors, argued that short reasons given in Youth Court proceedings were insufficient, effectively reversed the burden of proof and gave the appearance the wrong standard had been applied. The Court rejected submissions from the Crown that there was any lesser need for clear reasoning in the Youth Court than in other proceedings, not withstanding the brevity encouraged in summary cases. See: JS (a child) v DPP [2017] EWHC 1162 (Admin)
