R v Obeid (No 13)

The applicant, Mr Obeid, applied for bail pending the determination of an appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal against a conviction and sentence. Mr Obeid had been found guilty following a trial and sentenced to imprisonment. The legal issues the court was required to decide included whether Mr Obeid had shown special or exceptional circumstances warranting bail pending appeal. Various factors were relied upon, including the prospect of a non-custodial sentence, Mr Obeid’s age, health, and other personal circumstances, and the prospects of the appeal succeeding. The court considered that almost all the grounds of appeal had not been taken at the trial, and the prospects of success on appeal were no higher than reasonably arguable. The court found that Mr Obeid had not shown special or exceptional circumstances warranting bail pending appeal, and the application was refused.