Notable Criminal Cases – 2018
R V B/ W-M – CONSPIRACY TO SUPPLY AMMUNITION AND FIREARMS – CROYDON CROWN COURT
This case resulted from an Operation Trident investigation into the supply of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Detailed surveillance evidence and telephone cell site analysis was central to this case which culminated in an 8 week trial. Complex legal argument lead to an application for dismissal of the principal firearms charge which was dismissed by the trial judge.
R V G-S/F – CONSPIRACY TO POSSESS FIREARM WITH INTENT TO ENDANGER LIFE – SNARESBROOK CROWN COURT
The main Defendant was incarcerated at the time of the offences which were said to have been involved the hiring of a gunman who subsequently discharged a firearm at the victim’s house. Operation Trident undertook a detailed analysis of the several mobile phones and electronic devices in order to build a formidable case which was successfully defended at trial.
R V T – CONSPIRACY TO POSSESS FIREARM WITH INTENT TO ENDANGER LIFE – SNARESBROOK CROWN COURT
The Defendants in this case were the subject of a lengthy Trident investigation into alleged gang related gun crime. 2 firearms and ammunition were recovered as a consequence of a surveillance operation. Alleged gang affiliation and social media downloads were pivotal issues and were carefully scrutinised.
R V F – MURDER – ST ALBANS CROWN COURT
The client was one of 5 youths charged with the murder of another youth. It was alleged that the attack was gang-related.
The disclosure in this case centred on mobile telephone evidence and relied on call traffic between our client and the victim, our client and the co-defendants, and call traffic between all defendants. In addition, there was extensive cell-site evidence which showed the movements of the client before, during and after the attack.
A careful comparison of the mobile telephone download call logs and raw billing data was undertaken by the defence. The trial in the matter lasted 7 weeks.
R V D – ATTEMPTED MURDER – CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT
The Crown’s case was that the complainant had called the ambulance service stating her throat had been cut and was bleeding. The defendant was attended upon and instructions taken in custody, including the history of their relationship.
This case involved the preparation of a bad character application for the complainant following a careful consideration of unused material. This included police CRIS report and CAD messages detailing previous reports to the police of the complainant assaulting the client . This included use of a kettle and a knife.
Following a 6 day trial this client was acquitted.
R V T/G – MURDER – CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT
SVS represented both Defendants in this case who were charged with murder. They were accused of shooting dead an unfortunate bystander during the course of a gangland feud. Murder squad detectives had investigated an incident whereby the main Defendant was shot at and stabbed in the head and then allegedly sought to retaliate by firing shots at members of the rival gang on a housing estate in West London. CCTV and cell site evidence was utilised in the preparation of this case and after a 6 week trial both Defendants were acquitted.
R V K – CONSPIRACY TO SUPPLY CLASS A – AYLESBURY CROWN COURT
The Defendant was charged as part of a large scale surveillance operation that culminated in a lengthy and complex trial in relation to an allegation of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. This case attracted considerable media attention. After a 2 month long trial the Defendant was acquitted of the charges.
R V A – MURDER – LEWES CROWN COURT
It was alleged that the Defendant was a class A drug dealer and that he had stabbed and killed a drug addict in St Leonards on Sea. He was arrested near to the scene of the crime and was summarily charged. Following careful case preparation representations were made to the Crown and the murder charge was discontinued and an alternative charge of manslaughter was preferred.
R V S – CONSPIRACY TO SUPPLY FIREARMS – KINGSTON CROWN COURT
The Defendant was charged as part of a multi handed conspiracy to import and then transfer firearms. The case involved a complex surveillance operation by British and German Police as the firearms were being imported from Germany by a Bulgarian gang. Telephone intercepts were also utilised. Alleged UK based members of organised crime groups were also arrested.
R V C-D – MURDER – BASILDON CROWN COURT
A drug addict in South Ockenden was hacked to death with a machete and it was alleged that the Defendant had set him up. There had been a long standing feud between the victim and the drug dealer who was alleged to have killed him. The Crown sought to prove their case by the use of eye witnesses to the murder and extensive telephone evidence and cell siting. After a fully contested trial the Defendant was acquitted.
R V H – CONSPIRACY TO SUPPLY CLASS A DRUGS – PORTSMOUTH CROWN COURT
The Defendant was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs in the Portsmouth area. There were 8 Defendants charged in total in this high level “county lines” case. There was a considerable amount of telephone evidence and evidence from undercover officers. The Defendant was the only one not to be convicted in this case.