Recent Cases

• R v. NT & ors [Maidstone] 2018

  Drink & Drugs fueled Killing of Kent Man

  Jonathan Higgs QC leading James Martin for Goldkorns Solicitors. Three people were charged with Murder following the discovery of a body left in the stairwell of a block of flats in Chatham. The deceased and the three charged were known drug users and the death had occurred in a nearby flat occupied by one of the accused.

  The previous few days were carefully pieced back together by the investigatory team using a combination of CCTV footage, eye witness accounts and call records as well as some footage from mobile phones.

  There were complex issues of causation due to the post-mortem findings and in particular the neuro-pathology results. Besides the factual complications there were also issues relating to identification and also joint-enterprise.

• R v. OH [Isleworth] 2018

  Manslaughter of homeless man at Westminster Shelter

  James Brown acted for the Crown in this trial involving the the killing of a homeless man at Westminster Shelter following a drunken argument.

  News report here. 

• R v KW [Woolwich] 2018

  "Loss of Control" Murder

  Alistair MacDonald QC led James Martin. This case involved the defence of “loss of control” and raised the very difficult question of how a Jury has to approach the three stage test in a case where the violence used was so extreme. In such circumstances the true complexity of answering the final question was exposed. Where the Jury finds there was a loss of control based on a qualifying trigger: are they sure that a reasonable person in the defendant’s circumstances would not have reacted in the same or a similar way?

  Considering what a reasonable person who has lost his self-control might do in unusual and difficult circumstances is a very hard task indeed when the Court of Appeal have offered so little assistance on the topic. Instructed by EBR Attridge.

• R v W & ors [C.C.C] 2018

  14 year old cleared of Murder

  Charlotte Newell, together with Mark Cotter QC successfully defended a 14 year old boy accused of Murder, possession of an offensive weapon and attempted GBH. Client was alleged to have been one of a group armed with zombie knives and an axe who attacked two young men on a London street. Found not guilty after trial of all charges.. Instructed by Lisa Towell of Blackfords Solicitors.

  News report here

• R v. G [Guildford)] 2018

  Alleged hired assassin acquitted of attempted murder

  Paul Jackson acted for the Defence of an alleged hired assassin acquitted of attempted murder. The case involved the crucial cross-examination of the Crown’s medical expert and the detailed analysis of CCTV evidence. Instructed by Imran Khan and Partners.

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Notable Cases

• R v Alexander Blackman [Court Martial Appeal Court] 2017

  Murder reduced to manslaughter following CCRC reference and second appeal

  Jeffrey Israel and Senghin Kong led by Jonathan Goldberg QC and instructed under the Bar Direct Access scheme, represented former Royal Marine Sergeant Alexander Blackman (also known as “Marine A”) who succeeded after a long campaign for justice in having his conviction for murder reduced to manslaughter by diminished responsibility. The campaign was led by the renowned author Frederick Forsyth and the Daily Mail, and supported by thousands of members of the public.

  The new legal team submitted a 100-page report to the CCRC in December 2015. A year later the CCRC referred the case back to the Court Martial Appeal Court who swiftly quashed the conviction for murder and imposed a sentence for manslaughter which would allow for the former sergeant’s almost immediate release. Outside Court after the sentencing hearing on 28 March 2017, the wife of Marine A, Mrs Claire Blackman said: 
  
  “We are overjoyed at the judges’ decision to significantly reduce Al’s sentence, such that he can be released imminently. This is the moment that we have all been fighting hard for. It is hard to believe that this day is finally here. There are so many people we must thank for getting us here. They include of course our brilliant legal team, Jonathan Goldberg QC, Jeffrey Israel and Senghin Kong, thank you all. They also include the fabulous Frederick Forsyth and the wonderful Richard Drax MP, both of whom have fought tirelessly in support of Al.” 

  Mrs Blackman later added:
  
  “Jeffrey consistently offered us calm, considered and professional advice. His patience knows no limits. His knowledge and observation skills meant that he was always open and honest - never promising anything he couldn't deliver. And he certainly delivered.”
  
  “What Senghin doesn't know about the law and its application isn't worth knowing. His knowledge and attention to detail is incredible and yet his approach was always to help us clearly understand and explore solutions. Everyone needs a Senghin on their team.”

  To read more about this case please use the links below:

  Daily Mail report on the sentencing (28 March 2017)

  Telegraph report on the sentencing (28 March 2017)

  The sentencing remarks (28 March 2017)

  Daily Mail report on the conviction being quashed (15 March 2017)

  Guardian report on the conviction being quashed (15 March 2017)

  The appeal judgment (15 March 2017)

  Joshua Rozenberg’s commentary in anticipation of the appeal hearing (5 February 2017)

  Daily Mail Campaign for Justice page

• R v. Simpson-Kent [C.C.C.] 2016

  Murder of Eastenders actress and 2 children by partner

  Mark Heywood QC prosecuted the case involving the horrific killings of the Eastenders actress Sian Blake and her two children, whom were murdered by the partner and father Arthur Simpson-Kent. The defendant was sentenced to a whole life tariff.

  BBC News report here.

• Operation Farnhams [C.C.C.] 2012

  Murder of schoolboy at Victoria Station

  Sarah Forshaw QC leading Sue Rodham, successfully represented their defendant in the trial in respect of the brutal killing of the schoolboy Sofyen Belamouadden at Victoria Railway station by a gang of 19 youths in March 2010. The horrific nature of this killing led to widespread publicity of joint enterprise, knife related gang crime. Instructed by Whitelock and Storr.

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15310015

• “Baby P” Murder Trial [C.C.C.] 2009

  Notorious case involving the death of 17 month old Baby 'P'

  Sue Rodham led by Tim Roberts QC acted in the Defence of the "lodger" in the notorious case involving the death of a 17 month old baby when the local authority and other agencies were heavily critisised with regard to the lack of protection of the child. The defendant was acquiteed on the murder allegation and was convicted only of allowing the death of the child at the hands of others. Successful appeal against sentence. Complicated and detailed case involving the consideration of an enormous amount of disclosed multi-agency material.

• R v. Levi BELLFIELD [C.C.C.] 2008

  Prosecution of Serial Killer

  Mark Heywood QC together with the then First Senior Treasury Counsel, acted for the Crown in this prosecution of the notorious Serial Killer Levi Bellfield for the murders of the 22 year old French Student Amelie Delagrange and the 19 year old woman Marsha McDonnell as well as the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy. In 2011 Bellfield was convicted of the murder of Milly Dowler and sentenced to a whole life tariff. 

  Wikipedia entry here.