VIOLENCE, PROTEST, AND KNIFE CRIME

R v P [Kingston Crown Court] – Charles Austin-Groome was instructed to prosecute a 7 count domestic violence ABH trial. The trial lasted 6 days and involved a full day’s legal argument, 2500 pages of text messages, 330 exhibits and several live witnesses. 
The jury returned guilty verdicts. 

R v C, M, and others (Stratford) – Sam Lubner acted for the defence where four defendants were charged with wilful obstruction of Westminster Bridge during a climate change protest. Sam was able to exclude all bodyworn footage of the protest, which significantly diminished the Crown’s ability to evidence the level of disruption caused. At the close of the prosecution case, Sam submitted that without sufficiently detailed evidence on disruption, the court could not rule in favour of the Crown on the issue of proportionality. The District Judge agreed and the charges against the protesters were dismissed.

R v H (Inner London Crown Court) George Skinner, instructed for the defence, successfully appealed to the Crown Court against conviction for the possession of a bladed article in a public place. This was a case that involved the defendant having possession of the blade as a result of her mental health conditions. After representing the defendant in the Magistrates’ Court, George appealed to the Crown Court and secured an absolute discharge for the defendant.

R v H [2023] – Highbury Corner Youth Court Harry Stallard represented a young man who was convicted after trial of wounding with intent on another boy in an incident 3 years earlier. Successfully demonstrated that he had changed significantly since the incident, had stayed out of trouble and had engaged positively at school. He therefore avoided a detention and training order or a lengthy rehabilitation order and was a sentenced to a short period of youth rehabilitation.

R v SM (Harrow Crown Court): Louis Maskell represented a defendant charged with criminal damage and racially aggravated assault. The defendant had brain damage and also suffered from several mental health issues. Louis made a submission of no case to answer, highlighting key flaws in the Crown’s case. The submissions were successful, and the defendant was acquitted of all counts.    

R v O  Surinder Singh Gohlan instructed for the defence in an Arson with the intent to endanger life, GBH and three counts of assault on an emergency worker. The matter proceeded to trial on the GBH where the client was found guilty and sentenced. 

R v M (Isleworth) – Sam Lubner prosecuted a 6-day s.20 GBH trial. The defendant, who was advancing self-defence, was of exemplary good character and the incident occurred amidst a background of allegations that the complainant had vandalised the defendant’s house and intimidated him on separate occasions. The trial involved contested medical evidence, cross-examination of multiple defence witnesses of fact, young witnesses, and non-defendant bad character.

News