Scott Tuppen's client was acquitted of unlawful wounding after a two-week trial which commenced in September 2024 and concluded in October 2024.

At Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, after less than 15 minutes deliberating, the jury returned unanimous verdicts of not guilty on counts of s20 Unlawful Wounding and s47 Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm for two defendants jointly charged.

The prosecution had alleged that Scott Tuppen’s client had used a pickaxe to cause multiple serious injuries to a stranger in an apparently random street attack, aided by his co-defendant.

Before the trial commenced, the prosecution sought to amend the principal charge to the more serious charge of s18 unlawful wounding with intent but following submissions from Scott Tuppen and Katie Porter-Windley of 3TG for the co-defendant, the court refused to allow the amendment.

During the trial, the defence made an application to exclude evidence under s78 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and an application for specific disclosure (under s8 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996). Both applications were granted. This led to the exclusion of unreliable prosecution evidence, and the inclusion of evidence that undermined the prosecution case.

HHJ Kember praised both prosecution and defence advocates for their high quality written and oral advocacy during the trial.

Scott Tuppen was instructed by Carter Osborne.