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About this case

Case name

James Donaldson or Murray v HM Advocate

Case reference

HCA/2025/504/XC

Type of appeal

Appeal against Conviction

Date of hearing

Wednesday 03 June 2026

Time of hearing

10:30 until conclusion

Judges

• Lord Justice Clerk

• Lord Matthews

• Lord Armstrong

Counsel for the Appellant

M Moir, KC

Case description

[1]    The appellant was convicted at the High Court of Justiciary at Glasgow of three charges of historic sexual abuse of two teenage children between 1991 and 1995 together with a charge of sexual assault of a third complainer in 2018. On 19 March 2025, the trial judge imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction with a punishment part of 2 years and 6 months’ imprisonment.

[2]    The Crown case relied on mutual corroboration. The appellant challenges his conviction on the grounds that the time gap between the historic sexual offending and the offending in 2018 was so great and was such a great and extraordinary feature of the case that the trial judge ought to have drawn it to the jury’s attention in her directions.

[3]    The appellant also challenges the sentence imposed.

[4]    The High Court of Justiciary Appeal Court will hear the appeal on Wednesday 3 June 2026 at 10:30am.