Latest News and Events from our Barristers and Chambers

18 days after he had finished his licence period from a 9 year sentence for rape, predatory rapist Michael Chand struck again. He met his new victim at the bus stop outside Wood Green Crown Court. He got her number and a few days later invited her to his place…

Dominic Benthall’s client was a pre-eminent figure in the world of academia, accused of possessing a number of IIOC on two computer devices. Through detailed cross-examination of the prosecution’s forensic computing expert, Dominic was able to demonstrate that the Crown could not prove that his client was in possession of…

Beth and Clodaghmuire represented 2 brothers who had been charged with kidnap of a 15 year old boy.  The defendants’ father, a delivery driver, was lured to a property in order to make a delivery when he was stolen from and ended up on the ground being strangled by one…

The case turned upon a drug line used by the Defendant. The prosecution expert evidence was that the language in the widely broadcast messages could only relate to Cocaine. A defence expert was instructed and that expert gave evidence that while the messages could relate to cocaine it was also…

The trial of 7 defendants began in November 2023 and concluded on the 23rd of January 2024.  Mr Evans’ client, second on the indictment, was the only defendant to be acquitted.  The prosecution case consisted of months of police surveillance, call data, expert telephone and DNA evidence.  Drugs and cutting…

Cocaine, cannabis, cash, scales and a ‘dealer’s list’ was found by Police at GG’s home address. GG also had previous convictions for the supply of Class A drugs. After a full trial at Croydon Crown Court, Helen Dawson (instructed by Shelly Burroughs at GT Stewart) secured unanimous acquittals for her…

Tackling knife crime - written by Stephen Akinsanya in this months Counsel Magazine.   https://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/tackling-knife-crime

Rupert’s client, a successful businessman, 80 years old, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by careless driving. On 5th January 2024 he was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court by the Recorder of Winchester, Her Honour Judge Morris. In view of the Defendant’s otherwise unblemished driving record and his…

Stephen Akinsanya, leading Will Paynter, secured an acquittal for their client following a successful submission of no case to answer on all four counts including firearms offences at the Central Criminal Court. They were instructed by Charles Worthington and Whitney Dixon of Lansbury Worthington. Their client, the first defendant in…

Kyri Argyropoulos (instructed by Achom & Partners) represented the first defendant KA.  KA was alleged to have assaulted a cab driver who lost consciousness and then forced him to part with cash and make a money transfer.  The Prosecution alleged that KA assaulted V and fractured his skull also causing…

Martin Rutherford KC led Chloe Ashley from No. 5 Chambers in a case where three men were found guilty over the death of a father fatally stabbed after his car was rammed at a KFC restaurant in Birmingham.  After a 6 week trial before Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb DBE two men…

Rory Field instructed by Kelsey Thompson of Andrew Storch Solicitors secured an acquittal of a defendant accused of digital rape. After 5 days of prosecution evidence, where the complainant gave live link evidence from Canada, Rory argued there was no case to answer on the single count.  The submission was based…

Anoushka Twining, instructed by Kiran Gibson of Blackfords LLP, successfully argued an appeal against sentence securing a suspended sentence order for her client.   In passing down their judgment the court noted the carefully prepared advice and grounds of appeal that enabled the case to be resolved without the need…

John Hunter instructed by Amosu Robinshaw Solicitors secured and acquittal on a historic allegation of multi-incident rape of his client’s stepdaughter, over 30 years ago. The trial at Leeds Crown Court lasted 4 days with the jury returning with a unanimous not guilty decision.

  Justin McClintock (instructed by Natalie De-Merist and Eddie Tang of IBB Law) has concluded the successful defence of a defendant accused of s.18 GBH and blackmail. At the conclusion of four days of prosecution evidence Justin argued that there was no case to answer against the defendant on any…

Charles Evans secures convictions in the prosecution of a former Catholic Priest, now aged 76, for offences committed by him on one of his parishioners, then aged 14 to 15. The offences complained of, committed in the 1980s, include what would now be termed rape and attempted rape of a…

Gabriella Fearns successfully appealed a term of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The Court of Appeal agreed that the term imposed in the Crown Court was not necessary, was disproportionate and lacked an evidential basis. Gabriella Fearns was instructed by Nick Brown of Frame Smith Solicitors

Chloe served an extensive written application to dismiss the charge, submitting that the Crown were unable to prove the aggravated element of the offence due to inconsistencies in witness accounts, lack of forensic evidence relating to the weapons and the fact serious injuries were sustained by MR and his co-defendant…

Beth Crocker, being led by Melanie Simpson KC (Doughty Street Chambers) , has just finished a 7 week trial at the Old Bailey. Their client was accused of tying up and strangling a pensioner to obtain her life savings before embarking on a shopping spree. The deceased’s body had been…

Helen Dawson successfully argued for a suspended sentence for her client, SH, who was sentenced for kidnap and assault. SH, together with another, kidnapped a 16-year-old boy, taking him from the street and assaulted him before forcing him to apologise to another who they believed he had wronged.   Helen…