Nigel Edwards QC leading Nichola Cafferkey and David Nathan QC leading Paul Williams on a two handed socially distanced murder trial at Southwark successfully got underway on Monday.

Nichola Cafferkey appeared at the Central Criminal Court on behalf of her client charged with murder. The Trial has been confirmed for 28th September 2020 at Croydon Crown Court for four weeks.

Following repeated and robust arguments to the prosecution that questioned the credibility and reliability of their witnesses, Sharmila Salvi and her solicitors were successful in having a section 18 charge discontinued. The defence argued their case in accordance with the Crown’s own published charging policy set out in the Full Code Test.

Ravinder Saimbhi appeared at Southwark CC briefed in a case of historic sexual abuse which involves allegations of indecent assaults spanning over decades and involving multiple complainants. Not guilty pleas were entered with a  2 week trial being  fixed for a date in November. This suggests a steady, and very welcome(!), return to increased trial activity at Southwark. Instructed by Jag Phull at Langfield Law

Ayesha Smart secures suspended sentence following her clients guilty plea to four charges of theft and four of fraud. The case was reported in the York Press https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/18642808.fraudster-used-fake-receipts-target-two-boots-stores-york/

Daniel Walker was instructed to represent IO at Sentence. IO previously pleaded Guilty to Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm and to two offences of Assault on an Emergency Worker. Following a confrontation in a supermarket between IO and a female shopper, IO followed and then attacked her by pushing her to the floor and repeatedly punching her to her body and face. On being detained he went on to punch two police officers before throwing a chair at one of them. Following full mitigation concentrating on IO’s mental health, culpability and drawing upon psychiatric reports, IO avoided immediate custody. IO was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment suspended for 24 months with a curfew, unpaid work, and rehabilitation activity requirement. ​

Please keep an eye on chambers website and social media accounts for some important announcements to be made on behalf of the crime team next week.

Have a good weekend all.
 

Jamie