England: Danyal Aziz’s EncroChat appeal rejected after expert-evidence dispute
The Court of Appeal dismissed Aziz’s conviction appeal on 20 February 2026. A central issue was refusal to adjourn for further expert work on EncroChat evidence.
Danyal Aziz received 33 years’ imprisonment in Birmingham in October 2023 for drug, firearm, ammunition and criminal-property offences. He argued that refusal to postpone his trial had prevented him obtaining further expert evidence about EncroChat. He also challenged the prosecution’s closing speech after dismissing his lawyers.
The court found that the defence already had expert reports and that the work already undertaken could support the technical objections raised. It said Aziz had not specified which messages he denied sending or receiving. Other evidence supported attribution of the account and parts of the messages. The court found no unfair trial and rejected both grounds of appeal, leaving the convictions in place.









































