Our client was a senior criminal solicitor charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in a murder investigation. She was unanimously acquitted following a ten-week trial at the Old Bailey prosecuted by senior treasury silk and a junior. She was alleged to have used her expert knowledge as an experienced criminal solicitor to coordinate the cover-up of an alleged murder.
Our defence concentrated on the fact that the crown had made an inaccurate assumption in her case; that because our client was a criminal defence solicitor, she was more likely to have been prepared to act immorally to benefit others.
We challenged the suggestion that our client had used her knowledge as a criminal solicitor to assist others in the cover up of the principal offence and had abandoned her integrity and principles in order to achieve this.
We placed great focus on the fact that in addition to being a highly skilled, trusted and experienced solicitor, our client was first and foremost a thoroughly honest, kind and decent human being and mother.
Our client gave evidence over the course of 4 days.
There were a significant number of high-profile press reports about the case, where our client was the lead headline. As a result of this press attention, it was more complicated to manage the intended defence witnesses who didn’t want their personal details associated with the case.
Due to our careful preparation, we instructed a consultant forensic psychiatrist who assessed our client and made a formal diagnosis of ADHD. This has been life changing for our client and had a huge impact on her case in terms of explaining her approach to her typical telephone communications and daily life in general. This evidence was of considerable importance to our case, as it assisted the jury to understand how our client interpreted and responded to questions during the lengthy period of time she was in the witness box giving evidence and this was vital to the success of her defence case.
The defence case required significant analysis of cell site and telephone evidence, not only relating to our client but also to her co-accused and the call sequences/cell movements of their phones and the significance of the calls between them.
There were numerous, detailed, and complex points of law that arose throughout the trial. Our client was cross-examined by a preeminent silk for D1, with whom a cut-throat defence was being run. The unfolding cut-throat defence was subject to legal argument and submissions to the judge in the absence of the jury.
Helen Newnham of Freemans Solicitors instructed Warwick Aleeson of 25 Bedford Row.
Whatever your personal circumstances the above is only a guide and we would advise you to contact us to obtain definitive advice as you will appreciate that each person’s circumstances are unique to them.