ADDITIONAL NOTABLE CASES 2023

2023 R V MP – CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT – ATTEMPTED MURDER

Our client stood trial, charged with attempted murder x2, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and theft of a motor vehicle. Our client is a well-known music artist. It was the Crown’s case that he was a gang member and that his chain worth £20k was stolen at an event; the Crown used this to demonstrate the motive for the shooting. The Crown relied on CCTV footage from the event that showed several altercations, to include a firearm being pointed at our client in addition to his chain being taken. The Crown then relied on the continuity of CCTV, to cell site, where they cell sited our client to the area where the motor vehicle was stolen, the same motor vehicle used for the shooting. The Crown then produced ANPR of that vehicle to show it travelling to the scene of the shooting. Finally, the Crown relied on CCTV of the shooting itself that showed the vehicle pulling up to the subject address and shooting at the house. It was the Crown’s case that the client knocked on the door before carrying out the shooting with the intent to kill two of those inside. Forensics found the bullet lodged in the glass panel of the door and GSR (gunshot residue) on a ‘Trapstar’ jacket. Our client accepted it was him in the CCTV at the event, accepted the ‘Trapstar’ jacket was his and accepted the mobile phone number from the cell site but denied it was him in the CCTV at the scene of the shooting. After a 3-week trial with the jury out for just 3 days, not guilty verdicts were returned to all 4 counts and as a result our client was acquitted of all charges.

2023 R V R- ISLEWORTH CROWN COURT- MURDER AND POSSESSION OF OFFENSIVE WEAPON

Our client was charged with murder following a fatal stabbing in West London in 2020. Our client was arrested at the scene and DNA evidence linked him to weapons used during the altercation. The crown relied upon on a large amount of CCTV evidence, forensic evidence, eyewitness accounts and call data evidence to prosecute our client. We were required to respond to each piece of evidence accordingly, in order to mount his defence of self-defence. Years of case preparation went into this matter; we worked tirelessly in order to defend our client in this difficult case.

2023 R V C- NEWCASTLE CROWN COURT- CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER

Our client was charged as part of a multi-handed gun network with conspiracy to commit murder. There were 4 different police forces working on this and tracked our client to London. It was alleged that different gangs were working together. It was alleged that the victim was shot at outside of his address. The Crown looked to rely on CCTV, forensic evidence and telecommunications evidence to prove their case. After extensive legal arguments we had a charge of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence accepted where our client received a sentence of 5 years and 2 months.

2023 R V C LUTON CROWN COURT-MULTI HANDED-MURDER

Our client was charged with 3 others for the offence of murder. The Crown’s case was that the victim was stabbed to death at his flat. That the defendants had travelled to the victim’s address with the intention of robbing him in a “honey trap.”
That 2 female co-defendants had lured our client and another male into the flat where the murder took place.

The Crown looked to rely on forensics, cell-site analysis, CCTV and telecommunications evidence.

After a lengthy trial our client was not guilty of murder and convicted of the lessor offences of manslaughter and conspiracy to commit robbery.

2023 R V T- PORTSMOUTH CROWN COURT- AGGRAVATED BURGLARY

This was a serious incident whereby the accused were alleged to have kicked in the door to a flat, entered in a group, wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons. Once inside, they allegedly tied up the occupants, made demands for cash and jewellery, stole a few items, but in the course of doing so, there was an altercation with one of the residents. He was slashed around the face with a blade sustaining a GBH level injury. Before the offenders left, they took one of the occupants with them, kidnapping him.

Following extensive evidence produced by the crown, including CCTV, footwear pattern analysis and telephone evidence, our client accepted attending the location of the flat, but did not accept taking part in the aggravated burglary. He was the only defendant (of four) to be acquitted of the aggravated burglary, and the only defendant to avoid a custodial sentence in this case.

2023 R V B- HARROW CROWN COURT- POSSESSION OF A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO ENDANGER LIFE

In this case, our client was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The Prosecution case was that the defendant not only possessed a firearm and ammunition but that he did so intending that life would be endangered as a consequence. During his trial, our client gave evidence stating that he did not know of the presence of the ammunition in the firearm and therefore he had no intention to use the firearm.

During the case preparation for this matter, we requested a modern slavery referral and then relied upon the defence of duress during the trial. The defendant was able to provide a detailed account of his difficulties with local gang members, and the threats he had subjected to in the lead up to his arrest.

The defendant was acquitted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life following a lengthy trial.

2023 R V C- SOUTHWARK CROWN COURT- S18 GBH AND VIOLENT DISORDER

Our client was charged with S18 grievous bodily harm after a fight broke out in Selfridges in Oxford Street in May 2021. During this altercation our client was stabbed. He raised self-defence during his police station interview as a defence to the violent disorder charge and maintained this defence throughout his trial.

One other male involved in the fight was stabbed during this altercation. Our client was accused of inflicted these stab wounds. Again, our client denied this allegation. He did not accept stabbing the victim in self-defence or otherwise.

We worked tirelessly, examining the CCTV and mobile phone footage in this case, to determine our client’s involvement and advise him accordingly.

Following a lengthy trial, our client was acquitted of the s18 GBH, avoiding prison time.

2023 R V A- INNER LONDON CROWN COURT- MURDER

Our client was accused of murder following a stabbing in Eltham in February 2022. Our client accepted being present but denied having any involvement in the stabbing.

The crown conceded that our client was not the person who stabbed the victim, but stated that our client was responsible for his death, by encouraging the individual who did stab the victim.

This was a complex case, involving CCTV, phone evidence, DNA evidence, and a large amount of eyewitness evidence.

Following trial our client was acquitted of the murder and convicted of a lesser offence.

2023 R V D- SNARESBROOK CROWN COURT- KIDNAPPING AND ROBBERY

Our client was one of three defendants to be charged with the above offences following phone work which placed our client in the car used during an alleged kidnapping.

We examined the call data provided by the crown in this case and discovered a phone number linking the alleged victim and a prosecution witness in this matter to a large drug operation. Upon pushing for further disclosure on this drugs line during the course of the trial, we were provided with evidence to support our client’s account- that the ‘victim’ was pretending that he was kidnapped in order dupe the head of drug dealing enterprise into providing ransom money.

Upon the service of this disclosure, the prosecution discontinued the case against our client before delivering their closing speech.

2023 R V Y- WOOD GREEN CROWN COURT- POSSESSION OF A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO ENDANGER LIFE AND ROBBERY

This case involved two young men, coerced into drug deliveries by older gang members in their area. Our client was caught on CCTV leaving a flat and carrying a bag containing a firearm in September 2020.

Our client relayed how he was threatened and forced to collect this package. He was able to provide evidence of violence inflicted on him in the past by the same gang.

We requested a modern slavery referral for this young client, but this was rejected by the Single Competent Authority (SCA) due to the contradictions between our client’s account and the information provided to them by the police. Of course, the police were providing the SCA with an alternative theory to our client, and that was one we did not accept. Despite this setback, we persevered.

Our client was acquitted of both charges following trial, avoiding a lengthy and life-changing prison sentence.

2023 R V W – ISLEWORTH CROWN COURT –ATTEMPTED MURDER AND S.18 GBH

Our client was accused of attempting to kill the victim following 18 shots fired at the victim at close range. Our client was seen on CCTV being present at the shooting but denied having any involvement. The Crown accepted our client was not the shooter but stated that he was still involved and therefore responsible for the near death of the victim.

The complex trial involved CCTV, phone evidence, bad character applications and ANPR evidence. The Crown went further to allege our client had attempted to sell his vehicle which he was driving on the day of the allegation.

Following a 7-week trial, our client was acquitted of all charges.

2023 R V A – SNARESBROOK CROWN COURT – ROBBERY AND S.18 GBH

This was a serious incident in which the victim was alleged to have been set up by the co-defendant to meet up. At the meet up, our client was alleged to have robbed the victim of his possessions whilst brandishing a large knife. It was alleged that victim was allowed to walk away by the defendants, at which point the Crown allege our client has run up behind him and has proceeded to stab the victim in the upper torso / chest. The victim had then staggered to a nearby road where members of the public had assisted him.

Before this case could get to trial, we submitted an application to dismiss on the grounds that there is no admissible evidence that identifies our client as the ‘second male’ involved in the incident and therefore insufficient evidence for a jury to properly convict our client on any of the counts.

Our application was successfully argued, and the case was dismissed.

2023 R V G – SNARESBROOK CROWN COURT– BLACKMAIL AND ROBBERY

Our client was the employee of the victim before being sacked for unsatisfactory work. The Crown alleged that our client approached the victim and punched and kicked him repeatedly and robbed him of £800 cash and a watch. Our client was further alleged to have blackmailed the victim by ordering him to transfer money into his account or that he would continue to beat him.

The Crown were able to place our client within the location through cell-site analysis and prove the exact amount alleged was transferred to our client at the time the robbery and blackmail allegedly took place.

The defence undertook extensive analysis into the working relationship between the client and the victim. Following a trial, our client was acquitted of all charges.

2023 R V H – BASILDON CROWN COURT – POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO SUPPLY CLASS A AND CONCERNED IN THE SUPPLY OF CLASS A-MODERN DAY SLAVERY

This case was regarding a county line drug operation where it was alleged that the drug line number was changed repeatedly in an attempt to avoid police detection. The drug line sent out numerous bulk messages and had caught the police attention in mid-2021. The Crown relied upon phone evidence including text messages and cell site evidence to show our client was operating this drug line.

Our client accepted selling drugs but on the grounds of modern-day slavery through violence and attacks. Following our client’s instructions, we requested a modern-day slavery referral which deemed our client a victim. We thereafter instructed experts to provide their view on the findings and sourced evidence of the previous attacks our client sustained.

As a result, the Crown offered no evidence on the first day of trial.

2023 R V H- INNER LONDON CROWN COURT-CONCERNED IN SUPPLY, POSSESS CRIMINAL PROPERTY-MODERN DAY SLAVERY

Our client faced four counts of being concerned in the supply of class A and one count of possession of criminal property.

The prosecution alleged that our client was linked to the supply of drugs through his co-location to the drug line. The prosecution alleged that broadcast messages were sent out in the vicinity of our client’s home address. CCTV footage was obtained by the prosecution which showed our client topping up the drug line on multiple occasions. That our client had also ordered a takeaway on from the same number and provided his home address. Two drug lines was found in close proximity to him during the search of his home when he was arrested. During the interview at the police station, he had denied being forced or pressured to supply drugs.

Our client ran a defence of modern-day slavery. During his trial the prosecution relied upon images of our client partying in attempt to diminish his defence. Our client maintained his defence of modern-day slavery. He was able to provide supporting medical evidence and was acquitted of all counts at trial.

2023 R V FH – ST ALBANS CROWN COURT – MURDER

Talisha Mathurin, a legal consultant of this firm was instructed on what the Crown called a ‘honey trap’ murder that involved 6 defendants: 3 boys and 3 girls. All 6 defendants were found to be inside the deceased property when the victim was killed. It was the Crown’s case that the females had set up the victim by making him believe he would be receiving sexual services, when instead they had called 3 males to the property to ultimately murder and rob him. The men were found to be wearing balaclavas and gloves and the Crown were able to rely on contact between the defendants in the form of WhatsApp and Telegram messenger chats. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and asphyxiation. The victim also had duct tape around his mouth.

The Crown were able to adduce evidence that showed that our client was the one who let the males in to the property of the victim and produced messages between her and another female after the incident, discussing how to conceal / destroy evidence such as their mobile phone devices and discussing what to say to the police and solicitors when arrested. Our client accepted presence at the scene, letting the males in and taking part in these conversations.

On the 12th July 2023 whilst others were convicted of Murder, our client was acquitted of Murder.

2023 R V KJ – WOOLWICH CROWN COURT – POSSESSION OF A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO ENDANGER LIFE & GBH S18

The Crown relied on CCTV of our client passing a firearm over to his co-defendant before then taking it back and discharging it outside an unlicensed music event. Our client accepted it was him in the CCTV and accepted discharging the firearm. A number of shots were heard to have followed on from the discharge of this firearm and 2 victims sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to Kings College Hospital where they were treated for their injuries. The Crown were never able to recover the firearm, but instead the firearm was handed in to the police by the co-defendant.

On the 19th May 2023, after we uploaded an application to dismiss argument, the Crown offered no evidence to both a possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and GBH S18. Instead our client pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm. Despite having previous for the same offence, our client was sentenced to a suspended sentence and released from custody immediately.