An experienced leading junior with a substantial criminal defence practice.

Areas of expertise:

Financial Crime:

Has a wide experience of financial crime including the following: MTIC VAT fraud; Insurance fraud; Mortgage fraud; Advance Fee fraud; Gaming fraud; Corporation fraud (including public utility fraud); NHS fraud; Multiple Share Application fraud (following privatisation); Building fraud; Leasing fraud; DSS fraud and Money Laundering.

General Crime:

Violent Crime: defended in many murders, including contested committals and s.51 transfers; firearms offences [R. v. Stoddart [1998] 2 Cr.App.R. 420 CA]; arson; and serious assaults.Sex Offences: Rape and indecent assault. Experienced in using video link and undertaking work involving children.

Drug Offences: importations and drug conspiracies

David Barnes is accredited by the Bar Council to provide Public Access Services.

Notable Cases:

• R. v. Bedding [leading junior]  - The defendant was charged with conspiracy to supply massive quantities of cocaine, conspiracy to handle £1,000,000 worth of stolen goods and possession of counterfeit coins. 
  
• R. v. Cryne [led junior] - contract killer, charged with the murder of the wife of an associate.
• R. v. Carlisle and others [led junior] - defendant charged with unlawful killing motor vehicle manslaughter following the death of a cyclist resulting from racing motor vehicles.
• R. v. Smith [junior]  - 80 year old defendant, who drew the futuristic Judge Dredd cartoon for the 2000AD magazine, charged with historic child abuse.
•  R. v. Mphefo [junior] - Botswanian careworker charged under the Mental Health Act following the death of a patient in her care.
• R. v. Hale [Led junior] - Millionaire businessman charged with the murder of his wife who disappeared without a trace in 1999.
• R. v. Wilkinson [led junior]  – 18 year old defendant charged with murder following alleged baby shaking.
• R. v. Monkton and Monkton [led junior] – defendant charged, together with his brother, with murder following an alleged stabbing and meat cleaver attack.
• R. v. Hensher-Smith [leading junior] – 74 year old defendant charged with historic child sex abuse involving four complainants abused over a 33 year period.
• R. v. Sibley [junior] – defendant charged with controlling prostitution at a number of brothels and money laundering involving £800,000.
• R. v. Sykes and Brown [leading junior] – defendant charged with murder following a drugs robbery,
• R v. Edwards [led junior] – 27 year old Estonian defendant charged with murder following the stabbing of her 72 year old husband.
• R. v. Smith [leading junior] – defendant charged with conspiracy to defraud which represented a substantial cheque fraud involving the use of numerous false identities.
• R. v Utku [leading junior] – defendant charged with people smuggling. He was said to be the UK organiser of a conspiracy involving smuggling of numerous Turkish citizens into the UK through Germany. Foreign intercept evidence was relied upon.
• R. v. Dema [led junior] – Albanian 18 year old defendant and four others charged with an honour killing.
• R. v. Igbanugo [led junior] – defendant and four others charged with a £40,000,000 MTIC VAT fraud. 900 hours VHCC preparation was undertaken.
• R. v. Dzewu [leading junior]  – defendant and 5 others charged with conspiracy to supply massive quantities of Cannabis.
• R. v. Damon Aspen [leading junior] – SFO prosecution of defendant charged with large and complex insurance fraud involving Lloyds of London and Iron Trades.
• R. v. Keen [led junior] – defendant and four others charged with a £40,000,000 MTIC VAT fraud. The trial lasted 7 1/2 months.