Sarah Day appeared at the Court of Appeal to represent the respondent in an Attorney General’s Reference. The defendant had been sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for an s18 grievous bodily harm following a trial at Leicester Crown Court.  The complainant in the case required a titanium plate in her eye socket as a result of her injuries and the defendant had relevant previous convictions. Following detailed written and oral submissions, leave for the reference was refused.  The court held that the sentence was lenient, but not unduly so, and upheld the sentence imposed by the trial judge. News on the original case can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-60662696

Keith Arno Mitchell of Libertas Chambers, was instructed by Tasnime Akunjee of Waterfords, to defend owner of Tantric Blue, Mantra Night Club, Fuzzy Bears Comedy Club (Operation Aspen). This was an investigation by HMRC resulting from the takeover of and running of formerly Spearmint Rhino / Stringfellow ‘gentleman’s clubs’, in Windsor and Heathrow between 2012 to 2016, regarding alleged widespread tax evasion over a number of years involving allegations of up to £5 millions of Income and VAT evaded (with reference inter alia to tips paid to pole dancers). It was listed originally for trial but after a successful Newton hearing on behalf of the defendant, it resulted in a sentence at the Central Criminal Court of a 2 year suspended on 26th May 2022 with no confiscation.

James Walker successfully appeals conviction for conspiracy to supply class A drugs before the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Mrs Justice Lambert and Mr Justice Lavender. The trial involved the appellant’s DNA found on 2 separate 1KG packages of cocaine and the failure of the trial judge to withdraw the case at half time following a submission about indirect transfer. Instructed by Richard Derby of Potter Derby.

Syam Soni’s client was acquitted of 5 counts, including inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent (s.18), after a two-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court. Syam’s client, together with another, was alleged to have visited the Complainant’s home armed with a knife to demand money to settle a drug debt. The two Defendants were said to have subjected the Complainant, and other prosecution witnesses, to serious assaults with weapons including hammers. A further count of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent (s.18) was stopped at half time following Syam’s submissions. Syam’s client was acquitted of all counts, whilst the Co-Defendant was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm (s.20). Syam was instructed by Ouiza Silem of IBB Solicitors.

We are pleased to share an article from Solicitors Journal written by one of our latest tenants Chaynee Hodgetts. Chaynee uses her foreword to announce her Libertas Chambers tenancy and then goes on to outline the contents of the Spring 2022 edition of Solicitors Journal. For anyone that is interested in reading Chaynee’s Solicitors Journal article, it can be found here: https://www.solicitorsjournal.com/sjarticle/spring-forward/407998.

Sarah Day’s client was acquitted of two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, alleged to have occurred in 2014, after a week long trial. The case had several complexities including cross-examination of the complainant under s28 YJCEA 1999 and adducing evidence of prior allegations.

Saleema Mahmood defended AbdurRahman Ellahi, one of three men on trial for Violent Disorder. The defendant was acquitted after a 3 ½ month trial at Birmingham Crown Court. The trial focused on the fatal stabbing of one man and the pursuit and attack of another. Both men had taken part in an arson and shotgun attack on the home of a co-defendant. The Crown case was that the defendant armed with two knives pursued the man through the Sparkbrook area of the City. The male was found with injuries. The trial involved careful painstaking analysis of CCTV footage and lengthy detailed legal arguments as to evidence of three persons together threatening violence. Saleema was instructed by Ruksana Kauser of KA Solicitors, Birmingham.

Dr Felicity Gerry QC writes on race and joint enterprise murder for The Justice Gap with some suggested legal reform in England and Wales. Read more here https://www.thejusticegap.com/why-race-is-an-issue-in-joint-enterprise-murder-and-what-are-the-solutions/