News & Events: Criminal
Improper non-disclosure of a Complainant’s medical records
1. Scenario A Complainant (“C”) refuses to consent to his GP providing the Crown with medical records. The Defendant (“D”) has requested disclosure of these records, on the understanding that C has a history of prolonged substance abuse and mental health concerns. C has also indicated that he believes information within the records is detrimental […]
Sarah Jones QC and Peter Asteris prosecute county lines drugs murder
Sarah Jones Q.C. and Peter Asteris prosecuted the murder of Taylor Williams. Williams was an 18 year old man who was the victim of a stabbing during a robbery which arose due to a County Lines drugs dispute. The trial involved 3 Defendants, Olamide Soyege who was convicted of murder, conspiracy to rob and robbery […]
Long overdue and a welcome addition: The Sentencing Act 2020
The first day of the month in which we traditionally offer gifts to one another saw a gift being made to criminal lawyers in England and Wales: the entry into force of the Sentencing Code. The Code is the product of the Law Commission’s 12th programme of law reform, a project which began in […]
Pupillage Open Evening
Pump Court Chambers invites prospective pupillage applicants to join us via Zoom for an informative Pupillage Open Evening. Date: Tuesday 21st January 2021 Time: 18:00 until 19:30 The evening will comprise of the following short presentations: The application process, how pupillage is structured and what we look for in our tenants; Recent pupils’ experiences […]
R v Shane Mays
James Newton-Price QC and Andrew Houston have successfully prosecuted Shane Mays for the murder of 16 year old Louise Smith who was his wife’s niece. The trial attracted widespread attention in local and national news media. On 8 May 2020, Mays lured Louise to a secluded clearing in the woods near Havant in Hampshire where […]
Fit your own mask first: living life at the criminal Bar
We defend fearlessly our clients’ best interests and fight for the underdog every day in court, but neglect to apply that same attitude to ourselves. What is needed to improve the lives of those who seek to stand up for justice and assure the future of the profession? Siân Beaven’s article ‘Fit your own mask: […]
Chambers and Partners 2021
Pump Court Chambers are delighted to see our hard work and dedication to our clients has been recognised once again within the Chambers and Partners 2021 Guide. The highly respected annual guide, released today, ranks both counsel and chambers based on the research of more than 170 full-time editors and researchers who talk to lawyers […]
Why was Ceon Broughton’s conviction quashed?
Introduction The quashing of Ceon Broughton’s conviction was met with indignation. The well-publicised tragedy of Louella Fletcher-Michie’s death, and Ceon Broughton’s subsequent trial, has cemented a number of conclusions in the court of public opinion. This article will set out why the Court of Appeal decided to overturn Mr Broughton’s conviction for manslaughter. […]
R v AD [2020] EWCA Crim 849
In R v AD [2020] EWCA Crim 849 the Court of Appeal quashed Mr D’s convictions for sexual assault and assault by penetration after hearing fresh evidence which undermined the medical evidence which had led to the prosecution. The case joins a long list of seemingly water-tight convictions subsequently quashed on appeal after the expert […]
How can the backlog be addressed?
It is no secret that the effects of COVID 19 have had a substantially detrimental effect on the “flow” of cases through the Crown Court. Prior to the lockdown, approximately 39,000 cases were waiting to be heard; now, five months on, there are well over 41,000 by most estimates. Some trials are being listed as […]
Siân Beaven secures Referral Order in youth robbery sentence
Siân Beaven represented R, a youth, who had pleaded guilty to 5 charges of robbery and 3 charges of attempted robbery at sentence. The client, who had been 13 years old at the time of the offences, had been part of a group that had committed the series of street robberies against other teenage victims. […]
Justin Gau secures rape acquittal
Justin Gau secured an acquittal for his client in a recent rape trial, where the Crown alleged the defendant had confessed in a text exchange with the Complainant. After a 4-day trial at Wood Green Crown Court, the jury were out for less than an hour before returning a verdict of Not Guilty.
