Court of Appeal success for Eddison Flint

October 15, 2020

Eddison Flint from Exchange Chambers has appeared in the Court of Appeal this week, successfully arguing for a reduction in the defendant’s sentence in a case involving considerations around culpability when mental health is in issue.

In August this year, the defendant was jailed for seven months for assaulting 2 GPs.  The man, who has a recognised psychiatric illness, had pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting emergency workers after injuring the GPs with his walking stick.

In reducing the defendant’s sentence, the Court of Appeal found that the judge erred in failing to recognise the full reduction in culpability as a result of his mental health issues.

The case is of particular relevance due to the new mental health sentencing guidelines coming into force this month (1 October 2020).The guidelines apply when sentencing offenders who at the time of the offence and/or at the time of sentencing have any mental disorder, neurological impairment or developmental disorder.

Eddison Flint was instructed by Alex Mackenzie of Howard and Byrne Solicitors.