R v Christopher Berry (‘China Spy case’); Woolwich Crown Court (2025)

Leading Defence Counsel. s1 Official Secrets Act 1911 charge. Alleged CB was a spy who, whilst working as a teacher in China, obtained sensitive Parliamentary information on Sino-UK topics from his friend, a political researcher at the China Research Group with inside connections at Westminster and used information to prepare 34 reports for a man called ‘Alex’ who worked for the Chinese Intelligence Services (CIS). Reports dealt with numerous topics including UK’s attitude towards Taiwan, Xinjiang internment camps, Huawei and Confucius Institutes. CB also addressed legislation impacting adversely upon Chinese influence in UK (e.g., National Security and Investment Act 2022) and internal political power struggles within the Conservative Government and on the Foreign Affairs Committee. 

Prosecution suggested that value of CB’s information was demonstrated by the fact that he had met with Cai Qi, one of the most senior ranking political figures in China. Defence case was that Alex worked for CN Strong in Hangzh0u which, in turn, represented other companies intending to trade with the UK and which wanted to be kept informed of the changing political climate. There was no evidence to suggest Alex was a State operative. Almost all the information provided by CB was freely available on internet media sites. The remainder was speculation or gossip of the type found regularly on political blogs and entirely unreliable. All of it would have been well-known to the CIS. It was highly unlikely that CB met Cai Qi as media accounts showed him to be engaged elsewhere in China around the time of the alleged meeting. Further, China could not reasonably be regarded as an ‘enemy’ of the UK based on the public stance of the Government around this time. 

Some of the witnesses to be called by the prosecution included a Deputy National Security Advisor and several MPs with links to the China Research Group. A vast amount of research of contemporary media sites was necessary to establish the public nature of the source of CB’s comments in reports and emails to Alex. A similar level of analysis was adopted to process the Government’s evolving approach to China by referencing contemporary Cabinet members’ speeches such as that of the Foreign Secretary and published reports such as that of the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee. A former Beijing Embassy diplomat and senior academic was also instructed to comment upon these issues. Service of his lengthy and detailed report upon the prosecution was, almost certainly, one of the factors which led to no evidence being offered shortly before the beginning of the six week trial.  The case received global attention. 

Junior: John Armstrong. Instructed by Ed Wykes of Armstrong Solicitors

BBC News

The Times

R v Joshua Eno Central Criminal Court (September 2024- October 2024 & re-trial September-October 2025)

Leading Defence Counsel in shooting of an alleged ‘37’ gang member in a Battersea square. The prosecution alleged the shooting was over the theft of a motorbike. The defence was that the gun had been in the possession of the deceased and had gone off accidentally in a struggle with the defendant. Case involved cross-examination of numerous eyewitnesses, the interpretation of Ring doorbell audio footage of what was said at the time of the shooting and analysis of the evidence of firearms experts and a pathologist. A five week trial led to a hung jury with a re-trial taking place in September 2025.

Junior: Richard Moss. Instructed by Richard Brown of Baxter Brown McArthur

MSN 

R v Javon Riley (‘Tottenham Turks shooting’) Central Criminal Court (2025)

Leading Prosecution Counsel. Attempted assassination of members of the Hackney Turks gang (‘Bombacilar’) outside a restaurant in Dalston in a drive by shooting organised on behalf of the rival Tottenham Turks. The two organised crime groups are linked to the UK’s heroin trade and have been involved in a tit-for-tat feud for close to two decades. Three members of the rival gang were seriously injured as well as a nine year old girl who was shot in the head. JR was one of the planners of the attack and detailed analysis of CCTV, ANPR and cell site as well as credit card receipts was necessary to track his movements over a three week period. He spent hours watching the restaurant from a café across the road and driving repeatedly past it in his Range Rover as he considered traffic movements and escape routes and organised the theft of vehicles from south London which he would later use to drive the gunman away from the scene after the shooting before setting fire to them. He also ensured the men were at the restaurant on the night before giving the gunman the go-ahead.  The case also involved the interpretation of covert audio surveillance after the event as JR talked cautiously with others in a borrowed vehicle about his relationship with the leadership of the Tottenham Turks and the shooting. Legal issues included whether transferred malice could apply to a charge of attempted murder. Three week trial.

Junior: Abigail Husbands. 

Instructed by Andrew Caird (CPS Complex Case Work)

BBC News

Sky News

R v Khudr Al-Kurdi and others Central Criminal Court (2025)

Leading Defence Counsel in a five month trial representing an 18 year old (YA) who was one of eight defendants in a drugs gang allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of a member of a rival gang outside a house in West London. Case involved analysis and interpretation of hundreds of hours of CCTV and audio footage as to the extent of YA’s knowledge and participation in the shooting as well as phone attribution and usage.

Junior: Richard Gowthorpe. 

Instructed by Suhaib Hallak of Hollingsworth Edwards

Evening Standard

R v Danny Craze Lewes Crown Court (2024)

Leading Defence Counsel. Defendant allegedly murdered brother by stabbing after both had taken significant amounts of cocaine. Defence was self-defence. Two week trial. Cross-examination of neighbours who heard adverse exchanges between the two men.

Junior: Charles Royle. 

Instructed by Callum Haddow of Saunders Solicitors 

R v Sean Deery & another Central Criminal Court (2023)

Leading Defence Counsel in murder trial. Multiple stabbing of former associate by two males captured on CCTV in Surbiton Street. Detailed analysis of footage. Cross-examination of mutual acquaintance to whom alleged admissions were made. Cut-throat with 15 year old co-defendant. Four week trial.

Junior: Charles Royle. Instructed by Stuart Harris of HP Gower Solicitors

R v Denis Ivanov & Others Kingston Crown Court (2024)

Leading Prosecution Counsel. Five week murder trial. Altercation outside parade of Hounslow shops after the defendants had stolen the alcohol of a group of international students. Mr Ivanov obtained a knife from a second defendant and chased after the group and stabbed one of them. Detailed examination of lengthy CCTV video/audio footage. Issue raised as to whether Mr Ivanov was able to form the requisite intention due to intoxication. 

Junior: Catherine Pattison. Instructed by Richard Murrison CPS Homicide Division London

Hounslow Herald

R v Wesley Atick Oxford Crown Court (2024)

Leading Prosecution Counsel. Defendant beat an acquaintance to death in a Milton Keynes underpass having consumed alcohol. Case involved CCTV and eyewitnesses. Defendant pleaded guilty to murder two weeks before trial.

Junior: Graham Smith. Instructed by Michelle O’Garro CPS Homicide Division Thames Valley

BBC News 

R v Blessing Mukungurutse & another Leicester Crown Court (2024)

Leading Defence Counsel in murder/manslaughter case. Defendant was bouncer at club who was alleged to have threatened then punched a customer who died several days later. Issues included close examination of CCTV footage and medical reports in relation to whether death was caused by the defendant’s actions. CPS accepted guilty plea to manslaughter shortly before trial. Sentence of 4 ½ years imprisonment.

Junior: Rashad Mohammed. Instructed by Carmel Murphy of Khattak Solicitors Manchester

BBC News

Operation Pavecrest: R v Tolwinski & Others Leeds Crown Court (2023)

Leading Defence Counsel in six week historic murder trial in which a Polish ex-police officer was buried in a grave near a reservoir in Halifax having been tortured and stabbed to death in a flat in Huddersfield in 2011. Defendants were stopped by police in the vicinity of the reservoir on the night but released without charge. One of those present came forward many years later and took police to the burial site. Involved cross-examination of ‘supergrass’ eyewitness over multiple days in relation to numerous previous accounts as well as several other witnesses. Significant volume of circumstantial evidence.

Junior: Imran Khan. Instructed by Mohammed Haque of Kingsman Solicitors

BBC News

Manchester Evening News

R v Sean Callaghan Southwark Crown Court (2025)

Prosecution Counsel. Case of fraudulent conduct involving misuse of client funds and accounts by an Essex solicitor over 17 years in two firms leading to a loss of almost £400,000. He was a Deputy District Judge during most of this period. Complex tracing exercise was required as numerous false accounts were created to conceal the movement of funds. Prepared 19 count indictment. Defendant pleaded guilty. 

Instructed by Karen Sturman London Complex Casework Unit

Law Gazzette

Operation Stovewood: R v David Saynor Sheffield Crown Court (2024)

Leading Prosecution Counsel in five week trial involving multiple allegations of rape, assault by penetration and sexual activity with a child amongst other matters. A Rotherham limousine owner groomed eight young teenage girls aged 12-17 with promises of free rides or promotional work. He collected them from schools or care homes in stretch Hummer or limousine, gave them alcohol, cigarettes and/or money then sexually abused them in the vehicle or at his yard. The offences took place over a 12 year period between 2005 and 2017.

Junior: Holly Clegg. 

Instructed by Sam Thompson/James Bolton-Smith CPS Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit

The Sun

The Guardian