Specialist Defence counsel with level of practice significantly beyond Call, chosen by solicitors because of reputation for determination, unstinting hard work and fearless defence of the rights of the individual.  Regular instruction by recipients of the  Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year and Young Legal Aid Lawyer  of the Year awards; and by one of the largest private criminal solicitors’ firms outside of London.  

Vibrant Crown Court and appellate practice spanning violent crime, sexual offences, financial crime and the commercial supply of drugs.  Recent highlights include the successful defence, both acting alone and as a Led Junior, in cases involving murder, attempted murder, serious non-fatal violence, rape, gun-point car-jacking, armed robbery, threats to kill, conspiracy to supply and import class A drugs, possession of prohibited firearms, organised football violence, and the first case brought by an Education Authority for ‘catchment area address fraud’.  Regularly accepts instructions to defend people with learning disabilities and mental health problems.   

Notable Cases:

Murder:

R v Madekwe & Ors, CCC, September 2009 to January 2010 - Led Junior in high profile murder trial while representing one of four defendants accused inter alia of murder and attempted murder following a stabbing at a petrol station of son of former Prime Minister of Somalia. Defendant was aquitted by a jury of murder, attempted murder and manslaughter

R v Brown, CCC, May 2009 - Allegation of attempted murder of wife by husband. Acted alone for the defendant, a man in his eighties, who had attempted to end his wife's pain and suffering whilst intending to die alongside her. Defendant was aquitted of attempted murder and sentenced to a Community Sentence for aiding and abetting an assisted suicide

Sexual Offences

R v Scott, St Albans Crown Court, January 2010

Acted as Led Junior for a defendant accused of the historic sexual abuse of his step sister, including numerous counts of rape. Complainant did not report sexual abuse to the police for some thirty years yet complained of abuse to friends, a teacher and medical professionals. Indictment stayed as abuse of process due to delay.

R v Ghirmay and Ors, Blackfriars Crown Court, January 2009

Acted as led Junior for one of three defendants accused of a 'gang rape' of a woman allegedly incapable of consent through intoxication, Jury unable to reach a verdict following first trial; Defendant aquitted at retrial.

Drugs / Dishonesty

R v K, Luton and Chelmsford Crown Courts, December 2009

Acted alone for defendant charged with conspiracy to supply inter alia 11.5 kilos of cocaine: settled plea and handled negotiations with SOCA and the Serious Crime Division of the CPS regarding a SOCPA agreement. Led Junior at sentence; Defendant sentenced to seven years' imprisonment.

R v Khan, St Albans Crown Court, June 2009 

Acted alone for defendant charged with a £30,000 cash in transit theft from his employer, Loomis. Defendant aquitted by Jury after trial.

Appeals

R v Fagan (pending)

Appeal against conviction. Appellant subjected to a quasi-section 34 CJPOA 1994 direction inviting the Jury to draw an adverse inference where Appellant had not been interviewed, and where alleged failure to mention facts relied upon occured during challenge to prosecution case

R v McCann, EWCA, June 2009

Successful appeal against sentence for targeted distraction-burglary of the elderly, sentence reduced from a term of 6 and a half  years' imprisonment to one of five years.

McCann v Herts police, EWHC May 2009

Habeas corpus due to police manipulation of the PACE clock, but prior illegality held irrelevant due to subsequent legal detention.

B v Director of Public Prosecutions [2008] EWHC 1655 (admin) (03 July 2008), Archbold 2010 at 15-54

 Successful appeal by way of case stated against decision of West London Youth Court: The duty of plain clothes' officer to produce documentary evidence applies even where he is well-known to the person to be searched      

Other  Notable Cases   

Harrow Borough Council v Patel (2009)

Successful defence of first person to be prosecuted for an alleged school placement fraud. Borough Council withdraw the case prior to legal argument contending that a school placement is not a gain in property terms within the meaning of the Fraud Act 2006.

R v Williams (2007)  

Successful defence of a defendant tried in absence for gun-point car-jacking, without the assistance of a leader.  The defence was mistaken identity, notwithstanding the positive identification of the defendant and strong links to the getaway vehicle.

R v Wali-Zadar (2007)

Successful defence of a defendant accused of sexual offences against a child under 13.  The case involved complex third party disclosure and public interest immunity issues.

R v Griggs (2007)

Appeal against conviction for driving with excess alcohol.  Legal argument involving abuse of process: coaching of witnesses, loss of CCTV evidence, communication between the CPS Lawyer and the Officer in the Case, failure to comply with full disclosure under the CPIA and AG Guidelines.  The conviction was quashed at the close of the case for the Respondent.

R v Meachen (2007)

Successful defence of a defendant charged with a public order offence at Wembley Park Station on FA Cup Final day.  Cross-examination of numerous tactical support group officers: the Court ultimately preferring the evidence of the defendant to that of the police.  Acquittal has enabled the defendant to embark on a private action for damages.    

R v A (2007)

Successful defence of teenager tried for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.  This trial involved an allegation by a police officer tasked with policing a well-known London School.  The young person accused suffered from high level autism and attention deficit hyper disorder [ADHD].  The Defence Case included evidence from a leading medical expert that, in the circumstances, the defendant would have been incapable of foreseeing the consequences of his action.