Felicity explains the reasons for not naming young offenders and the wider implications of naming those with mental health or cognitive issues or issues around neurodiversity. Felicity has long experience of representing young people accused of serious crime and has contributed to academic publications on a range of issues affecting teenagers, including autism. She suggests a Crown Court judge is not best placed to decide issues of the best interests of teenagers nor the public interest more generally, especially without expert evidence of the impact of such identification on these teens, their families and other children.     The above video is provided with permission from the BBC. Copyright © BBC/BBC Studios. We acknowledge the BBC as the original author of the content in the video.

Syam represented a young man of good character who was accused of undertaking a prolonged campaign of stalking against his former partner, a serving officer with the Metropolitan Police. The case involved forensic analysis of cell site evidence and call data records, and careful cross-examination of the complainant to expose significant shortcomings in her evidence. The case was considered so serious that it was initially anticipated to be tried by the Chief Magistrate, but was eventually heard at Willesden magistrates’ court by the District Judge. Syam was instructed and assisted by Rachel Innes and Neal Gozzett of Monan Gozzett LLP Solicitors on a private basis. Syam is regularly instructed in complex and sensitive operations nationwide.

Gulam Ahmed starts the trial of Piran Ditta Khan who is charged with the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky. PC Sharon Beshenivsky was murdered in 2005. Three men were convicted in 2007 of murder and others of manslaughter. It is alleged that Piran Ditta Khan fled the UK in 2006. He was extradited from Pakistan in 2023. Gulam is being led by Mr. Peter Wright KC and instructed by Raja Afzal of Ashmans Solicitors. More information on the case can be found by following the link below. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bradford-west-yorkshire-68276370

Syam Soni represented a man said to have been the ‘banker’ in a large-scale, multi-defendant operation spanning the North-East in which a firearm was said to have been fired and then sold. Syam’s client was said to have assisted an offender who had discharged the firearm in Newcastle, and thereafter alleged to have brought it to West Yorkshire for disposal. The trial, which lasted two weeks at Newcastle Crown Court, involved expert evidence concerning drugs, firearms and cell siting. The jury acquitted in just over an hour. Syam was instructed and assisted by David Campbell of Malcolm McGuinness Solicitors.

Grahame James was instructed on behalf of David Caplin at Cunninghams Solicitors, to represent a man accused of fraud against the Grenfell Tower and relevant charities after the terrible fire that destroyed so many lives. After a hard fought trial all three defendants were convicted but fortunately Grahame was able to convince the Learned Judge to suspend the inevitable prison sentence against his client, based on the respective roles of the parties and the fact that he and his partner had two young children, and the lenient but merciful course was to allow him to return home to raise the children and keep some semblance of a family environment . His partner was imprisoned, but he was permitted to return home to take care of their young children. A silver lining in an otherwise tragic case.

Dr Felicity Gerry KC has been appointed to defend Mr Ismet Bahtijari in the Kosovo Specialist Chambers which has jurisdiction over crimes against humanity, war crimes and other crimes under Kosovo law in relation to allegations reported in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Report of 7 January 2011. Felicity’s co-counsel is Jim O’Keefe. You can read more about the case here https://www.scp-ks.org/en/cases/sabit-januzi-ismet-bahtijari

Sarah Day, instructed by Steve Halsall at Cunninghams, represented the defendant charged with counts including encouragement of terrorism, dissemination of a terrorist publication and stirring up racial hatred. Following mental health reports being obtained, the defendant entered guilty pleas.  The Crown accepted the offences were committed recklessly.  During the sentence at Manchester Crown Court, HHJ Conrad KC accepted that the defendant’s autism had had a direct impact on his offending, and therefore reduced his culpability accordingly.   See media links to the case at these locations: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-68244908 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/kieran-turner-jo-cox-trial-b2493058.html

On 2 February 2024, the Joint Enterprise (Significant Contribution) Bill was debated in Parliament. Well known for leading the appeal before the UK Supreme Court in R v Jogee, Dr Felicity Gerry KC has been assisting Kim Johnson MP with her Bill to make the use of “Joint Enterprise” safer. The second reading was adjourned until 21 June 2024. Both sides of the House acknowledge concerns with the use of ‘joint enterprise’ laws. You can read the Parliamentary debate here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2024-02-02/debates/206D12EF-7ACD-4848-8D23-A01311A2122B/JointEnterprise(SignificantContribution)Bill