A guide to a Newton hearing in criminal law.

In a Newton hearing, the court will hear evidence from both the prosecution and defence in order to determine the basis on which to sentence a defendant.
The need for a Newton hearing occurs when the defendant has pleaded guilty to the offence, but on the basis of a different version of events from that of the prosecution and the Court has concluded that the factual differences would make a material difference to the sentence imposed.
In this latest clip from our Partners in Crime - Legal Podcast, criminal barrister John Dove gives a good example of when a Newton hearing happens in practice.