A cut-throat defence is where one defendant gives evidence that is damaging to a co-defendant's case, sometimes going as far as directly accusing the other person of the crime, while typically seeking to exonerate themselves. Such evidence may be given directly by a defendant (or more than one in some cases) as a positive aspect of their case or elicited by prosecution questioning. Either way, it can make for an uncomfortable moment during the case when one defendant is pitte

With many offences, the punishment may vary according to the context of the criminality.  By way of example, violence in a domestic context will generally be treated more harshly than the same level of harm against a stranger (absent other aggravating features). The same is true of drugs offending, and particularly when it involves prisons and prisoners. A failure to understand this fundamental point may result in clients being given incorrect advice concerning likely sentenc