Paul Mann QC
Called 1980 – Gray’s Inn (Master of the Bench)
Trent College
Manchester Law School BA (Hons) Law
Assistant Recorder – 1999
Recorder – 2000
Queen’s Counsel – 2002
Treasurer of the Midland Circuit 2002-2008
A Deputy Leader of the Midland Circuit 2008-2011
Gray’s Inn Advocacy Trainer
Paul has received high praise from the Chambers UK Guide to the Legal Profession consistently for many years. His practice covers both sides of the Midland Circuit. He is a master of his facts and a highly effective advocate with Judge and jury. His commitment is never less than 100% whether prosecuting or defending. He has been commended for his excellent rapport with clients, complainants and families of the deceased.
His areas of practice are murder/manslaughter; all aspects of serious organised crime (including Proceeds of Crime); serial rape and historic child abuse; death by dangerous/careless driving and misconduct in a public office.
Cases of particular interest in which he has appeared include:
Defending
R v Alexander
Allegation of Murder. Issue as to causation/challenge of the Pathological findings. Not guilty verdict directed after submission of no case.
R v Knaggs
Issues relating to Official Secrets Act/phone tapping.
R v Ahmed
Vacating guilty plea to murder. Re-trial ordered.
R v Rose [2008] 2 Cr. App. R. 15
Proceeds of Crime: whether the value of a defendant’s benefit from receiving stolen goods in a non-criminal lifestyle case should be the market value of the goods or reflect his purely nominal legal interest in them.
R v Noor
Alleged rape of family members 40 years ago: a “Recovered memory syndrome” case.
R v Keith & Others [2010] EWCA Crim 477
Alleged defrauding of Derby County Football Club by main board directors. Issue re alternative verdict on basis not relied on by the Crown.
R v Hamblett-Sewell & Others
Murder. Shooting of member of opposing gang. Prosecution compelled to call witness it had wanted to abandon.
R v Smith [2011] EWCA Crim 1296
First challenge of fingerprint evidence to reach the Court of Appeal since 1999. A guideline case.
R v Crane July 2011
Murder. Issue as to whether the Court could take account of the alleged subsequent attempt to dispose of the body by fire as an aggravating feature on sentence when the allegation had been denied and the Crown had chosen not to add a count of Arson. The Judge ruled in favour of the defendant.
Prosecuting
R v Dawes & Others [2007] EWCA Crim 1165
Major gangland drugs/money laundering syndicate convicted. The Court of Appeal subsequently approved, for the first time, the principle that an appellant cannot complain of inadequate disclosure when he failed, at trial, to adequately disclose the particulars of his defence.
R v Stewart & Others
Murder. Nine defendants. The application of joint enterprise where there was no evidence as to which accused had inflicted the fatal stabbing. Complex factual issues surrounding use of tracking devices and cell-site analysis.
R v Guest
Murder. Issue arose as to whether, if the specific intent for murder has been proved, drunkenness may provide a defence where the drinks may have been laced. Judge ruled against the defence submissions.
