Latest News and Events from our Barristers and Chambers

Siobhan Molloy secured not guilty verdicts defending a 50-year-old self-employed builder who was tried for rape and assault by penetration. The defendant was accused of raping the daughter of one of his customers whilst working on their house. He was unanimously acquitted by the jury.

Patrick Maggs secured a unanimous acquittal at Leicester Crown Court after 25 minutes jury deliberation in a s18 stabbing. The complainant alleged the defendant, his former school friend, repeatedly stabbed him multiple times in a revenge attack for a supposed drug debt. The defendant’s shoes were contaminated with the complainant’s…

Beth Crocker, instructed by Martin Murray and Associates, secured the acquittal of her client accused of smashing a bottle over her boyfriend's head. The alleged assault caused lacerations to his nose, neck and back.  The bottle incident was the last in a catalogue of physical assaults including putting cigarettes out…

On Friday 31st March our Practice Manager Tom Parker (pictured in red) participated in the Queensbury Legal Boxing event organised by Murray’s Partnership Solicitors and 2 Hare Court Chambers. The event raised £6,390.00 for The Rainbow Trust children’s charity. Tom was successful on the night winning with a 3rd round…

The Crown alleged that defendant was involved in the dousing in pure sulphuric acid of a sleeping man in a love triangle gone wrong.  The prosecution could show the defendant had purchased the acid, tested its effectiveness on raw meat, talked to individuals about a planned acid attack, was very…

After a three week trial at the Central Criminal Court Patrick Maggs’ client was acquitted of attempted murder, an incident said to have been inspired by a foiled drugs robbery. The Crown alleged that the defendant could be heard planning and then bragging about events in a series of recorded…

International Women’s Day 2017 has been heralded by Prime Minister Theresa May’s announcement that there will be further reforms to strengthen and advance the protections afforded to women who have been the victims of domestic violence: a crime that continues to blight the lives of many women. Whilst any reform…

Wednesday 8th March is International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is Be Bold For Change and the challenge is to take ground breaking action that truly drives change for women and improves inclusivity. Thinking about this idea in terms of practice at the criminal bar is a challenge. The profession…

After a trial lasting almost three weeks, a defendant (represented by Jeremy Lynn) was acquitted of murder when the jury returned a verdict under s. 54 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, namely that he had killed the deceased following a loss of self-control triggered by a fear of…

Siobhan Molloy successfully defends a father against 17 counts of cruelty to his 3 children. The children were aged 10 – 15. The eldest child was deaf and blind and only spoke Portuguese.  

15NBS Chambers warmly congratulate Brian St.Louis on being made Queen's Counsel today. Brian defends in the most serious and high profile criminal matters. He offers a wealth of expertise having conducted more than 30 murder trials.

  Following a five month trial, four defendants were sentenced to a total of 44 years’ imprisonment in respect of the obtaining of almost £160m from the asset financing divisions of KBC, a Belgian bank, and Barclays.  The frauds involved the inflation and fabrication of 45 separate bogus contracts and…

M, a serial burglar pleaded guilty to his third consecutive domestic burglary before Southwark Crown Court. In light of over twenty previous domestic and non-domestic burglary convictions he was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. Stuart successfully argued both that the sentencing judge erred in his approaching to sentencing and that…

Tim Banks secures Court-Martial acquittal, preserving his exemplary record as a defence  advocate. P, a member of the military was accused of sexual assault against a female soldier. The case is the ninth defence trial Tim has conducted in a Court Martial Centre; this matter having taken place in Colchester.…

Every year the AWB hosts its pupillage advice clinic just in time for aspiring barristers to submit their applications. This year Chloe Ashley - who is currently undertaking a 12 month pupillage under the supervision of Timothy Banks - has been invited to speak about her experiences as a pupil at the Criminal Bar. The…

John Waller secured the unanimous acquittal of a defendant who faced trial for the armed robbery of a dry cleaners in Acton.  It had been alleged that he had entered the commercial premises with a hand-held angle grinder and threatened to cut off the proprietors hands if he did not…

Kathy Hirst succeeds in resisting Attorney General's Reference in relation to an unduly lenient sentence. Kathy successfully persuaded the Court of Appeal that categorisation of a case of sexual assault by penetration could be in the lowest category of the sentencing guidelines where the basis of plea impacted on the…

John Waller secured the liberty of ‘H’ for the second time in 4 months.  ‘H’ was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which prohibited him from entering certain public toilets.  John successfully defended ‘H’ in June for breaching this order and for a new offence of Voyeurism, these…

Martin Rutherford QC and Ruth Zentler-Munro secure acquittal of the so-called ‘Train Banksy’ who the Crown alleged was an international 'Graffiti King', who had committed dozens of offences in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and mainland Europe causing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage. The Jury took just 40…