Chaynee Hodgetts, instructed by Ashley Smith of Ashley Smith Solicitors, secured Not Guilty verdicts, with the Prosecution offering no evidence against a military veteran charged with serious allegations, including controlling or coercive behaviour, stalking involving serious alarm or distress, theft (x 2); criminal damage, and intimidation. After considering Ms Hodgetts’ written application to dismiss all charges, accompanied by Defence solicitors’ written representations, the Prosecution offered no evidence on all charges on this six count indictment – before the application to dismiss was even heard in court. Furthermore, the Prosecution did not pursue any application for a Restraining Order on acquittal (so none was imposed) – and a Defence Costs Order was granted. The Complainant was in full support of this outcome to the case. This case involved representing a military veteran living with PTSD and mental health matters, who was being assisted by the Royal British Legion and other support services.

Grahame James’s client and Sarah Day’s client both acquitted in Operation Waterloo In a trial of 5 remaining defendants in Operation Waterloo at Lincoln Crown Court, Grahame James’s client and Sarah Day’s client were both unanimously acquitted of conspiracy to supply class A drugs by the jury. 15 defendants had already pleaded guilty to the conspiracy, said to involve around 50kg of cocaine. The trial lasted for 5 weeks before HHJ Hirst, the Recorder of Lincoln. Grahame was instructed by Sakhi Solicitors and Sarah by Ison Harrison Solicitors.

Following a 3-day trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Fatima’s client was unanimously acquitted on 3 counts of (1) Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, (2) Non-fatal strangulation and (3) Theft, in under 90 minutes of the jury retiring. The Crown alleged that the defendant restrained his former partner to the bed, strangled her, placed his hands over her mouth and nose causing her to suffocate, punched and bit her whilst he continuously threatened to kill her. It was argued, on behalf of the defendant that the complainant’s injuries were inconsistent with her account and she had invented these allegations to secure custody of their children. Fatima Laher was instructed by Muzir Waheed, Zak Law Solicitors.  

Fatima Laher secured an acquittal for her client who was charged with making threats to kill and an assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The jury deliberated for under two hours before unanimously acquitting the defendant. The allegation involved a sustained assault with the defendant alleged to have punched, kicked and brandished a knife towards her former partners face whilst threatening to kill him. The defendant successfully relied on self-defence, arguing that she had been the victim of an attack by the complainant and this allegation was part of a campaign of harassment against her. Fatima was instructed and supported throughout the case preparation and trial by Nicholas Rozee, The Johnson Partnership.

Marie Spenwyn contributed an article to the August edition of Counsel magazine, co-written with Lynda Gibbs KC (Hon). In the article, they explain the process to, and significance of, a course developed for the Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA) for those representing children in the criminal justice system. The ICCA working group set out to draw together myriad resources to better equip practitioners to fulfil their regulatory duties and to continue its push for advocacy for children to be a specialist area of practice. Marie has been a member of the working party for a number of years working on the development of, and now delivery of the training course. Read the article through the link to the edition below – you can find the article on pages 20 and 21 of the publication. https://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/advocacy-for-children-in-conflict-with-the-law In other news, Marie Spenwyn is one of the newly elected Masters of the Bench of Gray’s Inn. More information can be found at the Gray’s Inn website: https://www.graysinn.org.uk/news/new-masters-of-the-bench-trinity-election-2024/

Kieran Galvin, instructed by Luke Bromham-Evans of Gomer Williams & Co solicitors successfully defended his client , securing an acquittal at Cardiff Crown Court in respect of an allegation of of perverting the course of justice. The principal offender was convicted of murder. Following two trials the client was convicted of assisting an offender but cleared of the much more serious offence of perverting the course of justice. Following the murder it was alleged that the client hid the co-defendant at his home address, treated an injury sustained in the murder and arranged transport for him. The client did not give evidence. In his closing speech Kieran Galvin relied entirely on the client’s interviews with the police.

Gerard and Adrian’s client was arrested with 2 kg of cocaine and a large amount of adulterant on 2 separate occasions less than a month apart. Operation Silver involved the supply of vast amounts of heroin, cocaine and MDMA.  Evidence included the conspirators use of over 800 kg of adulterant. Gerard and Adrian’s client’s defence was based on their client being a modern slave.  The jury unanimously acquitted their client on all counts after a 6-week trial. Gerard and Adrian were instructed by Tom Trobe of Pure Law Solicitors in Cardiff.

James Doyle, instructed by Goran Stojsavljevic of Berkeley Square Solicitors, defended Sheraz Majeed in an 8 day trial at Croydon Crown Court in respect of allegation of 8 counts of firearms offences. The defendant ran a dry-cleaners in Thornton Heath, which was the subject of a raid by firearms officers in October 2020 as part of Operation Trident in execution of a search warrant following a shooting in nearby Mitcham. An automatic Glock 17 firearm, together with two silencers and 48 bullets were found by the police in a laundry basket at the back of the defendant’s shop. The defendant, who worked 6 days per week in his shop, denied all knowledge of the weapon. He was unable to explain how it had got into the laundry basket in his shop. The defendant employed four people at the time of the raid. None of those individuals were arrested. At trial, the prosecution stated that the police had found “an assassin’s toolkit”. The defendant was unanimously acquitted on the 8 counts he faced on the trial indictment alleging offences of possession of the firearm, the two silencers and the ammunition with intent to endanger life and simple possession of those items.