Jonathan Stone represented the CPS this week at the Court of Appeal regarding the case of R v Connery. Connery’s appeal lay against his conviction and subsequent sentence for a section 20 grievous bodily harm assault against his ex partner (TB) which led to national press attention in the summer.
This was a fresh evidence appeal where both Mr Connery and TB were called to give evidence concerning a covert recording made by Mr Connery of TB post conviction. It was said by the defence team that TB admitted in the recording that she had lied about her original account of the assault. Jonathan challenged Mr Connery in cross examination suggesting to him, and later to the court in submissions, that he had orchestrated the recording to his own ends and that TB’s admissions were “tarnished”.
The court refused to admit the recording into evidence and subsequently dismissed Mr Connery’s appeals against both conviction and sentence.