David Walbank KC launches new ‘CrimeCast’ series on Financial Crime

January 30, 2026

Throughout this week, David Walbank KC has released the first three video case reviews in his new ‘CrimeCast’ series: ‘The Top 25 Financial Crime Cases Of 2025’:

· R v Skeene & Bowers [2025] 2 Cr App R 13 concerned the form of indictment in charges of conspiracy to defraud. Are the particulars of how the agreement was carried into effect essential ingredients of the offence? Must the jury be unanimous in respect of at least one of those particulars?

· R v Taktouk (Elie) [2025] AC 845 concerned the approach to be taken to fresh evidence in confiscation appeals. Where there is ‘plausible’ evidence tending to show that the defendant ‘might’ be sentenced differently, should the CACD direct the Crown Court to proceed afresh?

· El-Khouri v USA [2025] AC 845 concerned the double criminality rule. Are sections 137(3) & (4) of the Extradition Act 2003 (conduct specified in the request occurring in or outside the requesting state) mutually exclusive? In determining the location of the conduct, is the court concerned with where its consequences were felt?

The full set of 25 video case reviews will be available online by the end of March 2026.

‘CrimeCast’ is an innovative resource for monitoring developments in the criminal law as they happen, with a particular emphasis on financial crime. The website now hosts more than 250 video reviews of recent judgments. All the videos are accessible free of charge and without subscription or registration by clicking on this link.

David Walbank KC specialises in defending allegations of white-collar crime. He is currently instructed in a number of high-profile fraud cases before the Southwark Crown Court. Alongside his courtroom practice, he is a frequent contributor to New Law Journal through his ‘Crime Brief’ column and his current series of biographical essays, ‘Lives of the Great Advocates’ [link]. He is also a prolific lecturer on financial crime, most recently in December 2025 to the Whitehall Prosecutors Group with his ‘Review of the Year 2025’.