1. Double murder acquittal

Paul Mason represented a client charged with a double murder in Walthamstow alleged to have been committed during a drugs turf war. Seven defendants were involved in total and the evidence consisted of extensive CCTV, telephone contact records, cell site material and forensic evidence including DNA. The trial lasted in excess of four months. Our client was acquitted; four of the other defendants were convicted. Mr Nigel Lithman QC and Mr Ayaz Qazi were instructed counsel.

2. Bank manager acquitted of major fraud on his bank

Rhys Mardon represented a bank manager accused of defrauding his employer bank of £1million. Our client had maintained his innocence throughout a four-year investigation. Rhys concentrated on the internal systems and security procedures of the bank and, because of patient and thorough work, was able to identify a small but significant number of staff that used confidential client information to directly access bank customers’ confidential data and abuse their accounts. Staff at every level of the bank was cross-examined and the jury unanimously acquitted him of all charges.

3. Excellent confiscation result

Paul Mason represented a client facing confiscation proceedings following a trial for conspiracy to handle stolen goods, involving high value motor vehicles, when he was represented by other solicitors. The Crown were seeking a benefit figure of £1.2 million against known assets of £172,000. After the preparation of a lengthy response by Mr Mason, the Crown were forced to concede that they could no longer pursue a lifestyle enquiry, which reduced the benefit to £560,000. Following the submission of further lengthy skeleton arguments, the judge eventually made a confiscation order in the sum of £4,800. Mr Ami Feder was the instructed barrister in this matter.

4. Official inquiry success

Paul Mason represented a new applicant at a Public Inquiry held before the Eastbourne Traffic Commissioners Office, initially for a restricted licence for 36 vehicles. Following a detailed consideration of the case with the client, who made a number of significant changes to the application, including upgrading it to an application for a full standard national licence, as suggested by Mr Mason, the application for a full licence was granted.

5. Excellent & interesting sentencing result in attempted murder allegation

Unan Choudhury represented an individual facing an allegation of attempted murder, allegedly committed in hospital whilst he was recovering from surgery. He attacked his wife and her injuries were so severe that the Crown felt the only appropriate charge was one of attempted murder. Unan painstakingly instructed a range of experts to produce reports, including two psychiatrists and a consultant anaesthetist, who concluded that at the time of the attack our client was suffering from Post Operative Delirium due to his medical condition. The Crown, upon receiving the reports, reduced the charge to one of causing grievous bodily harm and suggested to the sentencing judge that the starting point for the sentence should be 10 years. However, Unan’s detailed and extensively prepared mitigation persuaded the judge to hand down a sentence of just four years.

6. Superb sentencing result for cannabis cultivation charges

Miles Herman represented two individuals accused by police of cultivating cannabis for commercial purposes, which was robustly refuted by our clients. Their preferred basis of plea was rejected by the Crown and the matter was set down for a Newton hearing. Two days before the hearing, the CPS changed their minds and accepted the original basis of plea. Miles mitigated before the sentencing Judge at Southwark who handed down conditional discharges to both defendants. It just goes to show that sometimes if you stand firm, common sense will prevail. Our clients were delighted.

7. Drug supply acquittal

James Reilly represented a vulnerable single mother with no previous convictions charged with possession of class A drugs with intent to supply. She had been advised by previous solicitors to plead guilty or go to prison, and duly followed this advice. However, she then contacted Lewis Nedas reiterating her innocence, and James had the guilty plea vacated and the case reopened. After a full jury trial, she was unanimously found not guilty of possession with intent to supply.

8. Mistaken identity case success

Sean Reilly represented a Polish male who faced an allegation of sexually touching an eleven-year-old boy. He was positively identified and his saliva was tested and provided a full DNA match profile. The jury were persuaded that due to the length of time and the changing description of the defendant, the complainant was mistaken in his identification, despite the DNA and the identification parade. The other two eyewitnesses were thus also mistaken. A unanimous not guilty verdict was returned.