Trials of Note
Some of the more interesting trials I have been involved in:
Defence Trials:
Antos (2015) Multi-handed armed robbery; defending alone; issues with whether police officers could be classed as ‘experts’.
Bandy (2016) Multi-handed conspiracy to facilitate child prostitution; led by David Josse QC; legal argument led to judge accepting there was no evidence against D and his acquittal.
Porter (2016) Murder, led by Alan Kent QC, acquittal (coD convicted of manslaughter)
Campbell (2016 & 2017) Murder, led by Alan Kent QC; unusual case, deceased was a loner and a hoarder who was found in his kitchen days after the deadly attack; the only real evidence was partial hand print on the oven which the defendant had helped install years earlier; police actions in interview were aggressive and coercive; hung jury for both T1 and T2; crown tried to argue for T3 but we opposed and the judge rightly refused.
Wadkin (2016) Joint murder of inmate at HMP Swaleside (High Security wing); representation for leading counsel (QC) was refused & client asked me to represent him alone; CoDef pleaded Guilty on day 1; evidence of alleged confession to prison staff excluded but defendant eventually convicted.
Reilly (2017) Historic rape allegations (step-father on teenage step-daughter); CPS refused to prosecute and attempts made by alleged victim’s mother to resurrect the case on 3 occasions but not taken to trial; pressure from the mother continued so CPS finally agreed to prosecute instructing a QC; led by Sally O’Neil QC to a clear acquittal.
Entecott (2017) Historic allegations against 78 year old retired nurse of cruelty & neglect of foster children from 1960’s and 1970’s; additional allegations against husband of D of sexual abuse, he was now dead but crown alleged the defendant allowed and encouraged the sexual abuse. Disturbing case with records going back to an era when ‘problem’ children were sent to boarding schools rather than children’s homes.
Sprigg (2017) Alleged serious unprovoked s18 stabbing by female defendant of male partner; XX of IP caused crown’s case to collapse & judge ordered acquittal without hearing any other evidence.
Duarte (2018) Multi-handed murder/manslaughter & violent disorder, led by Michael Borrelli QC; although convicted granted leave to appeal conviction which succeeded on the legal submission but ultimately failed.
White (2018) Multi-handed murder of homeless man living in a tent in a conservation area; led by David Hislop QC
Fox (2018-2019) Multi-handed murder, led by David Hislop QC; T1 abandoned, T2 hung jury (D2 convicted and D3 acquitted), T3 acquitted.
Pollard (2018) Conspiracy to murder, 3 defendants, representing D1 led by Eloise Marshall QC; wife & best-friend of victim conspired to kill him in numerous ways including fire, drowning, shooting and poisoning
Miguel (2019) s18 stabbing by 13 year old client, gang related
Bhandal (2019) Conspiracy, multi-handed County Lines, Class A; representing D1 with junior, D1 only 19 & claiming exploitation (along with D2, D3 & D4); T1 abandoned, T2 June 2019; issues over police interference with NRM and Modern Slavery defence.
Barden (2019) Conspiracy to kidnap a baby; multi-handed offence where the father agreed to kidnap his friend’s baby and return the child to him if he would return the favour; all went wrong and police chase through London found baby in car.
Prosecution Trials: