Notable Criminal Cases – 2025
R V JK – WOOLWICH CROWN COURT – NOVEMBER 2025 – CONSPIRACY TO ROB
Our client was tried for a high value conspiracy to commit robbery of a Jewellery store in Richmond, London, of over £1.38 million. This case sadly involved a loss of life. It was the Crown’s case that our client was present in the CCTV of the store, loading watches in the rucksack whilst the victim was being restrained by the co-defendant. Our client accepted being the individual in the CCTV. In February 2024 the co-defendant who was accused of being the organiser but was not seen in the CCTV was convicted after trial whilst the jury were hung on our client.
Part 2 – In November 2025 the Crown sought a re-trial with 2 others, one of those was said to be the other male the Crown say was in the same CCTV as us, whilst the other was held to be another organiser. The Crown for the second trial no longer needed to prove that a conspiracy existed. Following the trial, despite both co-defendants being convicted. Our client, JK was acquitted and released.
Assisted by Senior Consultant Caseworker Talisha Mathurin and Managing Director Sasha Sidhu of this firm.
R V AA – SNARESBROOK CROWN COURT – OCTOBER 2025 – POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, POSSESSION OF AMMUNITION AND ASSISTING AN OFFENDER
This case was linked to an attempted murder (shooting) and 4 other defendants. One of the co-defendants wanted for the attempted murder was found in our client’s home address. The police recovered a number of items scattered around our client’s home, to include a quantity of 9mm ammunition found in our client’s bedroom, 2 firearms, confirmed lethal barrelled weapon with a magazine containing 9mm rounds and a blank firer that the Crown said was easily converted. Our clients DNA was recovered on the feeder lips and top round of ammunition in the magazine. The Crown relied heavily on PIN calls from prison between all defendants, to include ours. After a 6-week trial, where 4 others were convicted, our client was acquitted after trial of possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.
Assisted by Senior Consultant Caseworker Talisha Mathurin of this firm.
R V ME – SNARESBROOK CROWN COURT – OCTOBER 2025 – POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO SUPPLY CLASS A X2
Our client was charged with 2 counts of possession with intent to supply cocaine and diamorphine. It was the Crown’s case that our client was the driver of a vehicle that was subject to a police stop. The car contained 2 passengers who were the co-defendants. Both cocaine and diamorphine were located and seized. In the vehicle police seized 2 phones attributed to our client. The police found a further 33 wraps of class A in a jacket that was on the back seat. It was the Crown’s case that we were the only defendant not wearing a jacket. Our client denied the jacket being his despite the car keys being in the pocket. On day 1 of the trial, we took issue with the evidence, to include the images of the coat and the proof of the car key being found in the jacket pocket. Following robust arguments by the defence, the Crown offered no evidence.
Assisted by Senior Consultant Caseworker Talisha Mathurin of this office.
R v S– CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT – ATTEMPTED MURDER
The defendant faced charges of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article arising from an incident outside a college. The Crown’s case relied heavily on CCTV footage, police identification evidence, and the complainant’s account supported by witness testimony.
The defence carried out a detailed review of the material, identifying significant inconsistencies in the Crown’s case. Issues were raised as to the reliability of the identification evidence, the accuracy of the CCTV interpretation, and the credibility of witness accounts. A self-defence argument was also advanced, supported by the surrounding circumstances.
Following robust cross-examination and legal submissions, the jury acquitted the defendant of both counts of attempted murder, returning not guilty verdicts.
R V S – BRISTOL CROWN COURT – MURDER
On 20th September 2024, the victim in this case was outside of a Post Office in Bristol, when an altercation occurred between himself and the defendant. Their dispute was over a pushbike, which resulted in a scuffle between the two in the street.
The defendant was armed with a knife which he had bought with him to the scene and used it to stab the victim in the chest. The victim was declared deceased the same evening. The incident was captured on CCTV and was witnessed by two plain clothes police officers who happened to be in the area as well as numerous members of the public. The defendant ran the defence of self-defence of trial.
R v NH, CT AND EP CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT-MURDER
On the 14th January 2025, 3 of our clients were charged and remanded for a high profile murder in London.
Blood-stained trainers and blood were discovered in the property in which they were arrested. The victim was discovered outside with multiple stab wounds
Less than 4 weeks later and consequent to the pre-emptive defence request for evidence, we made compelling bail applications in respect of each Defendant. At the bail hearing the Crown discontinued the case in respect of all 3 who have since been released. Assisted by Senior Consultant Caseworker Talisha Mathurin and Managing Director Mr Sasha Sidhu of SVS Solicitors.
R V AP GUILDFORD CROWN COURT-CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD
This case involved the alleged defrauding of victims via ‘romance’ frauds, and the laundering of the considerable proceeds both by those directly involved in the frauds, and by a network of their associates through bank accounts in their own names.
The total losses from individuals identified to be the victims is £784,600.77.
The total criminal property received into accounts in our client’s name or under control was said to be £277,912.70. Our client was said to have held 6 bank accounts during the indictment period.
Our client was not guilty after trial.
R v D – READING CROWN COURT-ATTEMPTED MURDER
The defendant was acquitted of attempted murder following a lengthy and complex trial at the Crown Court. The prosecution alleged that the defendant was part of a group of masked men who forced their way into the victim’s home while wearing balaclavas. According to the Crown, the group was armed with weapons including knives and baseball bats, and during the incident, the victim was stabbed in the chest. Throughout the trial, the defendant consistently maintained that he acted in self-defence. He denied being part of a planned attack or gang-related activity and insisted that his actions were a response to a situation in which he feared for his life. After carefully considering all the evidence presented by both sides, the jury ultimately rejected the prosecution’s version of events.