by Greg Baldeano | Mar 28, 2022 | Uncategorized
Double Acquittal
A brilliant result in Isleworth Crown Court and enormous thanks to Ollie Renton and Alex Monaghan of Crucible Chambers .
Greg Powell acted for a hotel owner and his wife who were accused of being involved with a gang supplying drugs using
a hotel room as their base . As a result of vigorous representations the Crown offered no evidence against the owner on the first day of Trial .
His wife was then acquitted by the unanimous verdict of the Jury after 5 days of trial . A family who had been through the most stressful time of their lives enormously relieved which is what makes the work of a Criminal defence lawyer worthwhile.
Oliver Renton – https://crucible.law/people/oliver-renton
Alex Monaghan – https://crucible.law/people/alexandra-monaghan
Greg Powell – https://psplaw.co.uk/team/greg-powell
by Greg Baldeano | Mar 28, 2022 | Uncategorized
NFA
Often the best result is when police conclude that there are good reasons for closing the investigation and tell the client there will be NO Further Action .
Our client was delighted today to hear that news after attending a voluntary police interview under caution with Greg Powell regarding an assault .
A very happy family !
Greg Powell – https://psplaw.co.uk/team/greg-powell
by Greg Baldeano | Mar 22, 2022 | Uncategorized
Man acquitted of serious firearms offences after gang evidence excluded and DNA evidence undermined
The CPS failed to rely upon gang evidence to support their case against a client of Mark Troman in a trial before Harrow Crown Court this month. The application related to the lyrics and movie footage used in a number of drill track recorded years before. The judge was not persuaded to admit the evidence following details and robust opposition from the defence. Further, the DNA evidence allegedly linking the man to a firearms was undermined by defence expert examination and interrogation of the scenes of crime reports and forensic analysis.
by PSP-admin | Jul 13, 2021 | Uncategorized
Shooting at Broadwater Farm Estate.
Following a shooting at the Broadwater Farm Estate whilst filming a drill music video, Powell Spencer client MA represented by Sinead Zaman and Lucie Wibberly of Garden Court Chambers was acquitted for possession of a firearm.
by PSP-admin | Jul 13, 2021 | Uncategorized
Double murder victory by Sinead Zaman of Powell Spencer and Ali Bajwa QC of Garden Court Chambers.
Sinead Zaman, Ali Naseem Bajwa QC, leading Eva Niculiu of Three Raymond Buildings, represented BR at the relevant time an 18-year old boy, in a three-defendant double murder trial at the Old Bailey.
The case concerned a dispute between two drug dealers, B and P Shortly after 20:00 on 19 December 2019, B drove his van into Courtland Avenue in Barnet, where P and an associate F were waiting for him. B had with him four people: K in the front passenger seat and three 18-year-olds (including BR) in the back.
Within 3 or 4 minutes of B’s van arriving in Courtland Avenue, F and P were dead; F had been stabbed 14 times and P 28 times. F body was bundled into the boot of P’s vehicle and driven away by T. Very shortly thereafter, P’s body was bundled into the van and driven away by B and the three 18-year-olds.
T was forced to stop his car in order to seek medical help for a serious wound to his arm, whereupon the police discovered F’s body in the boot. Meanwhile, the occupants of the van dumped Paja’s body in undergrowth beside a country lane, where a jogger found it the next day. BR’ DNA was recovered from a cable tie binding P’s wrists and BR’s baseball cap heavily stained with P’s blood was found close to the body.
The Crown’s case was that B, T, and BR had planned and committed the murders together acting as a team. B and T blamed BR and the other two 18-year-olds. The case advanced on behalf of BR was that B and T alone had committed the murders.
BR case involved the careful analysis and reconstruction of events using the circumstantial evidence, including that of eyewitnesses, DNA, pathology, CCTV/ANPR cameras, and mobile phone usage/movement.
After an eight-week trial and a day of deliberations, the jury unanimously convicted T and B of both murders and acquitted BR of all charges.
The case was reported by the Times and the BBC.
by PSP-admin | Jul 8, 2021 | Uncategorized
Knife Crime Prevention Orders: punishment without conviction?
Under pressure to reduce knife crime the government have introduced tough new powers, initially only in London, to target those people they believe are carrying knives.
Applications will be made when the police do not have enough evidence to prosecute a person for carrying knives in public but have some information, often hearsay, that they might be doing so. Knife Crime Prevention Orders carry forced requirements that are similar to punishments for those convicted of crimes. They may ban someone from using social media, entering a neighbouring postcode, or meeting with friends. Orders could include night time curfews or forced education.
Failure to follow the order’s requirements is a criminal offence for which a person can be imprisoned for up to 2 years. Finally, those subject to an order are forced to go on a register and must report their personal details to a police station; this process mirrors the infamous Sex Offenders’ Register. Not complying with the register requirements is also a criminal offence with a maximum sentence of 2 years imprisonment.
The above provisions provide the police with considerable power to adversely affect peoples’ lives. These powers are normally justified after someone has been convicted of an offence and form part of their punishment. Under these proposals a person subject to an order will not have been convicted of a crime and by their very nature, these cases involved weaker allegations; if the evidence was strong the person would be prosecuted.
Controversially the police can obtain an interim Knife Crime Prevention Order without notice to the defendant. This means they can go to court in secret to obtain an order without allowing a defendant to respond with evidence.
The Home Secretary’s announcement of these powers highlighted how they will be used on children as young as 12 years old and it is clear they will be often used on children and young adults. Parents and guardians therefore have an important role in helping them access their rights and to have a voice in the proceedings.
Those subject to an order will no doubt be entered onto policing databases. Though not a criminal conviction this is still a record which is available to the police to disclose in Enhanced DBS checks. For a minority of people, it might affect future employment and migration to certain countries such as the USA.
Legal aid is available to defend these applications and those affected should contact us for help and representation at court. We will challenge evidence on your behalf, we will cross examine officer and help you build a strong defence case if you feel unfairly treated.
Please get in contact with us today.
Mark Troman
08/07/2021
