Nigel Edwards QC and Nichola Cafferkey have finally after four months of lockdown almost finished a trial, with their jury out at Southwark Crown Court. Mr Ally from Hal Solicitors has expressed his deep gratitude for all their hard work in this case.

The last trial Nigel did was a six-handed murder in Teesside for Watson Woodhouse Solicitors. He led the way co-defending with Ayesha Smart in the acquittal of the three principal defendants.

It is of note that on Wednesday this week the Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland QC, was in attendance at court to see what can be done when all involved are given the tools and the funding to make cases work and get the system back on track.

Edward Lucas has been confirmed to prosecute the first s28 case at Woolwich CC this week. The Defendant is charged with sexual assault on a female with learning difficulties.

This week Edward has accepted instructions to prosecute a Defendant facing charges of serious sexual assaults over a 3 year period by brother on younger female siblings aged 9 and 11.

Nermine Abdel-Sayed participated in this weeks Q & A which can be found via our website https://www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/articles/q-and-a-with-nermine-abdel-sayed

Andrew Kerr has recently been instructed for the defence in a major Metropolitan Police corruption case involving an organised crime group emanating from Dubai, consisting of serving Police Officers and gangsters.

Emma Scott secured a sentence of 5 years and 4 months’ imprisonment for drugs importation.  Emma’s client was stopped at Heathrow with two suitcases containing just under 4kg of cocaine concealed within it.

Dudley Beal, privately instructed, secures acquittals for two separate clients in two separate trials, in one day.  Both clients had been charged with driving with excess speed and failing to provide details of the driver of a motor vehicle following service of Notices of Intended Prosecution by Thames Valley Police.. In each case, Dudley further secured Defence Costs Orders in favour of his clients.

Dudley Beal triumphs at Inner London Crown Court whilst defending a client in breach of a Suspended Sentence Order. The client had failed to complete less than 15% of their unpaid work requirement attached to the SSO, and had been breached by Probation on numerous occasions during the relevant period. The client was given a £50 fine with no costs or other penalties imposed upon him, despite prosecution applications to the contrary.

Annahita Moradi reported an article for the Red Pepper on treatment of children in YOIs. The article can be found via our website https://www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/articles/annahita-moradi-on-solitary-punishment-in-young-offenders-institutions

I am delighted to welcome John Black QC as a full time Tenant and Gul Nawaz Hussain QC as a Door Tenant to our team.

Please keep an eye on our social media and website next week for more announcements.

Have a good weekend all.