Members of chambers have appeared in a number of high-profile murder cases over the years, both prosecuting and defending, as juniors and as silks. Members appear in murder and manslaughter trials nationwide, but are frequently involved in major cases of this kind at the Old Bailey.
Cases of more historic renown include the trial of Baroness de Stempel for murder, R v Jeremy Bamber, concerning the murder of five members of the defendant’s adoptive family, and R v Harry Roberts and ors, in which three police officers were shot dead outside Wormwood Scrubs prison. More recent cases are the Essex Range Rover gangland triple murder and R v Martin – a murder conviction later reduced to manslaughter, where a farmer shot intruders as they ran from his property
Other more recent cases receiving media attention, in which members of 18 Red Lion Court have appeared, include:
- R v Preddie – the second (successful) prosecution for the killing of Damilola Taylor
- R v Bryan – the so-called London ‘cannibal’ case
- R v Bechian – the “London ambulance murder” where the victim was beaten by members of a rival drugs gang despite his retreat into an ambulance
- the widely reported trial of Dr. Martin, a Tyneside GP charged with the murder of three patients
- R v Wright – the murders of five women working as prostitutes in Ipswich
- R v Sweeney – murder of his wife by a prisoner on day-release
- R v Miah and Others- murder and attempted murder by arson of five members of a family by 14 year old and his older cousin.
- R v Clarke and R v Tondoneh - murder by setting alight female partners
- R v Johnson & Ors - murder of 15 year old using dogs
Members of chambers have long and substantial expertise in cases of homicide. These range from short trials of a week or less, to long trials involving multiple defendants, difficult evidential and technical issues, e.g. where death is caused by unusual or indirect routes, where defendant or witnesses have mental health issues, where anonymous witnesses are relied on. These require expert witness examination and strategic planning before and during trial. Members of 18 Red Lion Court are alert to such matters, .
Examples include:
- death during violent robbery
- death arising from serious road traffic accidents
- death where a vehicle has been used as a weapon
- death in the workplace
- murder and torture by a prison guard (International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia)
- death of those being transported by human traffickers
- death of children by wilful neglect or as a result of chastisement
Members of chambers understand well the special demands of a murder trial. These require careful navigation. Members of chambers are sensitive to the needs of interested parties and in particular, witnesses who may vulnerable for a wide variety of reasons, or have special needs during the trial. Murder allegations are particularly stressful for defendants: they are usually remanded in custody for long periods before trial (often in conditions of high security) and face long sentences if convicted. Members are accustomed to prosecuting or defending in homicide cases that have been complicated by additional issues, such as:
- Multi-handed cut-throat defences
- Unusually young defendants and/or victims.
- Examination of young or otherwise vulnerable witnesses and anonymous witnesses
- Complex scientific evidence of
- Causation, e.g. fire deaths leading to asphyxiation; neglect leading to starvation and dehydration, death by burning and falling.
- Identity and Involvement, e.g. the late-discovered bloodstain evidence in R v Preddie low copy DNA and dog DNA (R v Johnson)
- Specialist issues subject to expert debate, such as “shaken baby syndrome”
- Workplace breaches of Health & Safety and best practice codes
Murder allegations are many and various. Some, had not a foot connected with a neck artery or a knife penetrated a millimetre too far, would have been simple assaults or wounding. Others have a multitude of technical and legal complications. However, all have one thing in common – they will attract extremely high minimum terms of imprisonment alongside the mandatory sentence of Life Imprisonment. Twenty years ago, mitigation in a murder case was often confined to a few words: now the additional rights of family members and partners to express their reaction to the killing and the increasing body of statutory and case law on sentencing means that barristers have a vital role in assisting clients and the court on sentencing issues. Likewise, in the past, the prosecution had little or no role in sentencing: it also now plays a pro-active and vital role in assisting the court. Chambers prides itself on being able to present these issues carefully, attractively and accurately. This duty does not end at the door of the Crown Court. Members are frequently involved in sentencing appeals since both the prosecution and the defence have rights of appeal in this area.
Corporate Manslaughter
Members have appeared in cases concerning the difficult and challenging field of corporate manslaughter. Such cases have generally been run in conjunction with
Health & Safety prosecutions, in which members consequently also have some expertise. Notable corporate manslaughter experience within chambers includes not only the prosecution arising out of the Hatfield train crash (2005) but also
R v Michael Griffin and Constructional & Vehicle Welders Ltd (2007). Members of chambers have been involved in presenting seminars on corporate manslaughter and health and safety both within chambers and externally.
