We recently held a webinar delving into the topic of Forensic Archaeology – looking deeper into use of forensic archaeology in mass graves and major crime from Srebrenica to the Moors Murders to the Fred West investigations as well as in buried homicide, treasure troves and commercial construction This lecture also considers the recent ICC decision in Dominic Ongwen on Article 56 of the Rome Statute and the rights of defendants in the collection and preservation of physical and witness evidence . Presented by Professor Felicity Gerry QC and Abi Carter and Sarah Day – Felicity has defended a range of historic cases including a criminal trial where all the evidence (prosecution and defence) was on video. She is on the lists of counsel at the International criminal court (ICC) and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in the Hague. She has a particular expertise in out of time appeals and scene examination and a particular interest in the Richard III investigation. Abi Carter is a Forensic Archaeologist and Director of Forensic Resources Ltd. Abi worked on some of the forensic evidence associated with the mass graves of the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sarah was part of the defence team for Ao An at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. You can find the webinar here or watch it below. To stay up to date with insight articles, webinars, and chamber news why not subscribe to Libertas Lens (our periodic newsletter) – Click here to register

We recently held a webinar delving into the topic of Autism & the law – taking a deeper look into the petition for Alex Henry and the issues for those living with autism and facing criminal charges. In criminal proceedings legal professionals have to consider, recognise and respond to a range of issues that regularly confront medical professionals. These include adverse mental health; equality, and inclusion issues; poverty; evidence of bullying; parental substance misuse (alcohol and/or drug use); domestic (inter-partner) violence; and child abuse. Add to this Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) where the display of challenging behaviour, particularly by children and within the criminal justice system means we have a forest of problems with no apparent clearing. You can find the webinar here or watch it below. To stay up to date with insight articles, webinars, and chamber news why not subscribe to Libertas Lens (our periodic newsletter) – Click here to register

Update: This event has now been completed. You can find our post event blog here. Sign up open for our next Libertas Webinar – details below. Discussing the distinctions between unlawful acts and gross negligence, the recent case of R v Rebelo No2 on autonomy in causation and the continuing issues with the meanings of “substantial cause”, “reasonable foreseeability” and “obvious and serious risk” following Honey Rose v R Presented by Professor Felicity Gerry QC and Dr Oliver Quick – Felicity defended the appeal in R v Rebelo No1 where the Court of Appeal of England and Wales considered manslaughter in the context of a diet pill bought online and the scope of women’s autonomy in eating disorders. She has long experience of appearing in cases of homicide involving complex legal and medical issues. Oliver Quick is Reader in Law and Co-Director of the Centre for Health, Law and Society at the University of Bristol. He has written widely about law and patient safety with particular expertise on gross negligence manslaughter. His research was heavily cited in the Independent Review of Gross Negligence Manslaughter and Culpable Homicide established by the General Medical Council. Register today – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gross-negligence-manslaughter-medical-drug-and-food-related-deaths-registration-152993091455 To ensure you don’t miss out on future events please register for our newsletter by clicking here.    

Forensic Archaeology and the preservation of evidence for international and domestic criminal trials Discussing the use of forensic archaeology in mass graves and major crime from Srebrenica to the Moors Murders to the Fred West investigations as well as in buried homicide, treasure troves and commercial construction. This lecture also considers the recent ICC decision in Dominic Ongwen on Article 56 of the Rome Statute and the rights of defendants in the collection and preservation of physical and witness evidence . Presented by Professor Felicity Gerry QC and Abi Carter and Sarah Day – Felicity has defended a range of historic cases including a criminal trial where all the evidence (prosecution and defence) was on video. She is on the lists of counsel at the International criminal court (ICC) and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in the Hague. She has a particular expertise in out of time appeals and scene examination and a particular interest in the Richard III investigation. Abi Carter is a Forensic Archaeologist and Director of Forensic Resources Ltd. Abi worked on some of the forensic evidence associated with the mass graves of the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sarah was part of the defence team for Ao An at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. Register today – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/forensic-archaeology-and-the-preservation-of-evidence-for-criminal-trials-registration-152988981161 To ensure you don’t miss out on future events please register for our newsletter by clicking here. This event is finished – you can find it here

We recently held a webinar delving into the topic of recent sentencing updates – taking a deeper look into the key aspects of developments in sentencing related to drugs and firearms offences. This was a round table discussion with James Walker, Sarah Day, and Marie Spenwyn of Libertas Chambers examining the key features of recent developments in sentencing. You can find the webinar here or watch it below. To stay up to date with insight articles, webinars, and chamber news why not subscribe to Libertas Lens (our periodic newsletter) – Click here to register

Discussing the recent case of Lawrance on deception in relation to HIV in sexual offences, the decision in Rowe and how it affects the decriminalisation of HIV and the implications for transmission of COVID-19, we consider how public health issues need not give rise to criminal responsibility. Presented by Professor Felicity Gerry QC and Professor Matthew Weait FAcSS – Felicity defended the first prosecution for intentional transmission of HIV and has long experience of appearing in cases involving serious sexual offences. She is co-author of The Sexual Offences Handbook (3rd Ed forthcoming) and in 2020 she published two reference guides on the COVID-19 pandemic legislation in both England and Australia. Matthew is an internationally recognised expert on HIV and the law and was a Technical Advisor to the Global Commission on HIV and the Law (2012). He is the author of Intimacy and Responsibility: the Criminalisation of HIV Transmission (Routledge, 2007), and numerous articles on this topic. You can find the webinar here or watch it below. To stay up to date with insight articles, webinars, and chamber news why not subscribe to Libertas Lens (our periodic newsletter) – Click here to register

With over 24 million people who are reported to be in forced labour, and $150 billion dollars of illicit profits being generated globally per year, we really need to know more about modern slavery. We often hear terms such as ‘corporate responsibility’ and ‘supply chains’, but what does modern slavery look like in this day and age? And in what forms does it exist? How are corporates expected to find out if they have the exploitation of people in their supply chains? Find out by listening to our host Hatti Suvari and senior Barrister, Felicity Gerry QC in this eye-opening, revealing and shocking conversation! Below you’ll find a 1-minute YouTube introduction to whet the appetite and the full podcast.   Simply hit play to listen to the full episode now.

Discussing the petition for Alex Henry and the issues for those living with autism and facing criminal charges, we consider how substantive law and procedural adaptations could benefit from approaches adopted in evidence -based healthcare. Presented by Professor Felicity Gerry QC and Professor Andrew Rowland and Dr Clare Allely: 1. Felicity has defended a range of accused persons living with autism in cases involving complex offending such as terrorism and homicide. She drafted the current petition for mercy for Alex Henry who was convicted of murder without the jury knowing he lives with autism. Felicity is a contributor to several publications on vulnerability in justice systems, most recently in the New Law Journal on Trauma Informed Courts. 2. Professor Andrew Rowland has been qualified as a doctor for just under 21 years. He has a portfolio career as an NHS Medical Director, Consultant in Children’s Emergency Medicine in Manchester, Honorary Professor in the School of Health and Society at the University of Salford, Non-Executive Director of an international non-governmental organisation in Cambodia (M’Lop Tapang) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of a registered charity in England and Wales (SicKids). Andrew has specific interests in children’s advocacy, children’s rights law, development of early warning systems in emergency medicine and safeguarding vulnerable people. His PhD thesis explored “building child safe communities with children and young people at their hearts”. 3. Dr Clare Allely is a Reader in Forensic Psychology at the University of Salford in Manchester, England and is an affiliate member of the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre at Gothenburg University, Sweden. Clare holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Manchester and has previously graduated with an MA (hons.) in Psychology from the University of Glasgow, an MRes in Psychological Research Methods from the University of Strathclyde and an MSc in Forensic Psychology from Glasgow Caledonian University. Clare is also an Honorary Research Fellow in the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences affiliated to the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow. She is also an Associate of the Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice (CYCJ) at the University of Strathclyde. Clare’s primary research projects and interests include the pathway to intended violence in mass shooters; serial homicide; investigating how autism symptomology can contribute to different types of offending behaviour and autism in the criminal justice system (police, court, prison and secure psychiatric care). Clare also acts as an expert witness in criminal cases and HCPC fitness to practice cases and also contributes to the evidence base used in the courts on psychology and legal issues through her published work. Her specialist areas for expert witness work include Autism and offending. Register today – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/autism-and-the-criminal-law-registration-144627401451 To ensure you don’t miss out on future events please register for our newsletter by clicking here.