Felicity Gerry QC Successfully appeals a conviction for a victim of Human Trafficking

Appeal Decision Made By Lord Justice Fulford

Felicity represented a woman on appeal 1414 days out of time having been convicted for possession of an identity document with improper intention.

The conviction was quashed, and guidance was given on nine issues relating to the admissibility of the Single Competent Authority decisions, the consistency of previous decisions and the UK’s international obligations and European case law with regard to the protection of victims of trafficking, the scope of expert evidence on the question of trafficking and exploitation, the attendance and questioning of victims on appeal, the application of the power to stay proceedings as an abuse of process in this context, the definition of ‘compulsion’ and whether a victim of trafficking can seek to argue that a conviction following a guilty plea is unsafe.

The appeal decision was handed down today by LORD JUSTICE FULFORD (VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL (CRIMINAL DIVISION)), MR JUSTICE JULIAN KNOWLES and SIR NIGEL DAVIS.

The citation is AAD, AAH, AAI v Regina [2022] EWCA Crim 106.

Felicity was instructed by Philippa Southwell at Birds Solicitors.