R v Arneman

Craig Robert Arneman appealed against his conviction for indecently assaulting B, a child aged nine. The appeal concerned the trial judge's refusal to allow the jury to view the video evidence of B's statement again and the failure to give the standard direction as to the use the jury may make of the trial transcript. The jury had requested to view the video again, but the trial judge refused. The appellant's counsel did not object to this decision. The jury had been provided with the transcript of evidence given at the trial, including the transcript of the complainant’s video interview. The trial judge accepted that it would have been preferable to give the standard direction as to the use the jury may make of the trial transcript, but he did not consider there was any risk of a miscarriage of justice. The Court of Appeal found that neither point demonstrated that the verdict was unsafe, and the appeal against conviction was dismissed.