Recent Cases

• R v. Petrovic & ors [C.C.C.] 2019

  Murder of Essex Schoolgirl Jodie Chesney

  Sarah Forshaw QC represented the first of four defendants in the high profile Jodie Chesney murder trial. Following the highly publicised 8 week trial Miss Forshaw’s client was acquitted of both murder and manslaughter. Instructed by Sunita Mehta of ABV Solicitors.

  BBC News report here.

• R v. KK & 5 ors [C.C.C.] 2019

  Killing of Seirra Leone Teacher in Arson Attack

  Natasha Wong QC and Valeria Swift secured the acquittal of their client, an autistic teenager with severe learning disabilities, at the end of a 12 week murder trial involving six defendants at the Old Bailey. A woman became the innocent victim of a drugs feud when she died in an arson attack just hours before she was due to return home to Sierra Leone. The 46 year old Teacher, was staying with relatives in Woolwich, South East London, when the blaze broke out. Client found not guilty of joint enterprise murder, manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to multiple victims. Instructed by Jatinder Sokhal of TBW Solicitors.

• R v. Donovan & Woolcock [C.C.C.] 2019

  Loss of control murder

  Anthony Orchard QC led Charlotte Newell for the prosecution in a murder trial involving two cousins for the murder of their great uncle. The first defendant alleged loss of self-control; both defendants convicted following a trial.

  BBC report here.

• R v. Drenova [C.C.C] 2019

  Prosecution of Lithuanian serial-killer

  Jonathan Polnay, led by Tim Cray QC, acted for the Prosecution in this case involving a serial killer nicknamed Scarface who went on a bloody crime spree across Europe. He was jailed for at least 20 years for his fifth murder.

  News article here

• R v. KM & 2 ors [C.C.C.] 2019

  Enfield murder & attempted murder by Shooting

  Jonathan Higgs QC successfully defended this client who was acquitted of the joint enterprise murder of an North London student who was stabbed multiple times and shot following a late night altercation. A second victim survived multiple stab wounds. The two other defendants were convicted and sentenced to serve a minimum of 29 years each. Instructed by Phaedon Georgiou of Joseph Hill Solicitors.

  News report here.

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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.