Marie is an experienced defence junior, representing defendants charged with the most serious offences including murder, attempted murder, serious violence, conspiracies to supply drugs, firearms, kidnap and rape. Marie also prosecutes and is on the General Crime Panel at Grade 3. She spent 9 months on secondment to the CPS in 2023 and worked on cases involving offences of serious violence and organised crime. Marie worked as one of a team of Junior Counsel on Phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Marie is ranked in the Legal 500 2025 edition, as a Leading Junior in Tier 4, Crime.
Marie quickly earns the trust of even the most challenging clients with her direct approach. She has a particular talent for engaging with vulnerable clients and/or witnesses and is skilled at providing clear, sensible advice in a manner that engenders trust and inspires confidence.
In court, Marie establishes a rapport with juries through her measured and calm approach – she argues robustly on behalf of clients without losing the sympathy of her tribunal. She does not shy away from legal argument and presents both written and oral advocacy with confidence.
Marie is well versed in arguments regarding service of evidence, including telephone evidence, and disclosure of material. She works closely with instructing solicitors, engaging often to provide advice and support at all stages of case preparation. Marie’s preparation is meticulous and she is able to assimilate large volumes of evidence with ease.
She is never under-prepared and meets the challenges of each case head on with a clear strategy on how to achieve the best possible outcome for her client.
Marie was the first member of her family to attend university; she feels strongly about social mobility and improving access to the Bar. Marie is a member of the Criminal Bar Association’s Social Mobility Committee and a mentor for the Young Legal Aid Lawyers. She is a pupil supervisor.
R v Pritchard [2017] All ER (D) 95; [2017] EWCA Crim 1267: Successful appeal against an indefinite travel restriction order made as part of a compliance order pursuant to s.13(A) Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The Court of Appeal gave guidance for the first time on the correct approach to travel restriction orders and held that the indefinite order was not justified and was not appropriate. Term of the order reduced to 3 years.
R v Hall (Alan Wayne) [2015] EWCA Crim 116
R v Hassan Hussain, Sharoz Khan and Bilal Khan (2025) Defendant charged with attempted murder, imitation firearm and bladed article. News story here
R v Shaquan Richardson-Bowen (2024) 3 defendants charged with attempted murder, Firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, and arson. Junior alone representing D3. Firearm was discharged at a residential address whilst occupants were home in bed. Shots fired into each of the 3 front windows of the address. D2 accepted firing the gun – issue was intent to kill. D1 and D3 denied knowledge of firearm. All 3 convicted of attempted murder on joint enterprise basis. News story here
R v Harry Owusu-Manu (2024) – Prosecuting. Defendant convicted after trial of Attempted Murder (by fire) of former girlfriend and her 1 year old daughter. He set fire to her flat on 16 th floor of tower block trapping them both inside with no means of escape. Convictions also secured for offences of Arson recklessly endangering the lives of the other residents of the tower block, bladed article and religiously aggravated stalking to reflect “anonymous” online abuse he had been directing towards the victim, her new partner and their baby daughter prior to the fire. The defendant, complainant and witnesses were all members of the deaf community. News story here
R v JB (2023) – Coventry CC: Defence junior led by Anthony Metzer KC for D charged with murder. Deceased had been shot at point blank range through an open car window.
R v SH (2022) – Birmingham CC: Defence junior led by Imran Shafi KC for youth charged with murder. D had stabbed the deceased with a single stab wound to the stomach, however the angle of the knife had penetrated the deceased’s heart. Successfully argued manslaughter charge was appropriate and D received sentence of 9 years detention.
R v HOM (2024) – Central Criminal Court: Prosecution junior led by Grace Ong (2KBW). D attempted to murder his former girlfriend 18 years after their separation after stalking the victim repeatedly. He set fire to the front door of her flat on the 19th floor of a tower block when the victim and her 1 year old daughter were asleep inside. Jury unanimously convicted of attempting to murder them both and of recklessly endangering the lives of the other residents of the block.
R v TNP (2024) – Luton CC: Defending. D found not guilty of kidnap.
R v MZ (2024) – Birmingham CC: Defending. D jointly charged with 3 others with offence of kidnap. Persuaded prosecution to offer no evidence against client.
R v LV (2023) – Central Criminal Court: Prosecuting. D convicted of attempted s.18 Wounding with intent after swinging machete at a neighbour’s head and upper body whilst chasing him over a dispute over a parking space.
R v H (2020) – Wolverhampton CC: Defending. Client pleaded guilty to home invasion style robbery where lone female victim was stabbed multiple times. Judge persuaded not to impose life sentence.
R v BS (2019)– Kingston CC: Defending. Client charged with s.18 Wounding with Intent. Shown on CCTV footage stabbing vulnerable adult male in the head. Successfully persuaded prosecution to accept a plea to lesser charge. Sentenced to 30 months plus an additional 6 months for other offences.
R v G (2018) – Leicester Crown Court: Defending. Client charged with stabbing partner in the chest with a kitchen knife. Crown offered no evidence after successful application to exclude evidence under section 78 PACE 1984.
R v P (2017) – Birmingham Crown Court: Defending. Client charged with stabbing male in the leg. Acquitted.
R v K & K (2017)– Snaresbrook Crown Court: Prosecuting. Victim attacked by two males, struck on head with a wheel wrench and punched repeatedly causing bleeding, loss of consciousness and loss of hearing in the right ear as well as post traumatic stress. Both defendants convicted.
Operation Updraft (2024) – Isleworth Crown Court. Prosecution junior – defendants were alleged to be part of organised crime group supplying Class A and Class B drugs in Fulham and West Kensington operating highly successful “Mandela” drugs line. D1 and D2 were heads of the operation overseeing the line using more vulnerable line holders and runners, cuckooing the addresses of particularly vulnerable drug users.
Case involved reliance upon recordings of prison phone calls between D1 and his co-conspirators; argument about the admissibility of this sensitive product and careful consideration of additional sensitive material. Trial in absence against one defendant. Trial lasted 7 weeks with mixed verdicts.
R v N (2023) – Kingston Crown Court. Defending D1 in 5 defendant conspiracy to import 200 kilos of Cannabis into UK. Defendant found Not Guilty after trial.
Operation Larigan (2023) – Stafford Crown Court. Defending in multi-handed conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs in Staffordshire.
Operation Zumeta (2018) – Birmingham Crown Court. Defending in multi-handed conspiracy to convey class A drugs into prisons across the West Midlands using drones.
Operation Mohawk (2018) – Worcester Crown Court. Junior Counsel led by Jerry Hayes in this multi-handed conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Represented D1, alleged head of the Organised Crime Network.
R v ZH and AA(2024) Represented D1 charged with multiple counts of rape and paying a child for sexual services. Prosecution alleged that D groomed vulnerable teenage girl and then forced her to have sex with him “100s of times” over a 12 month period. Defendant denied that he had raped the complainant asserting that all sexual contact was consensual. Complainant had additional needs including ADHD and was particularly vulnerable as a “looked after child” in local authority care who’s mother was a drug user and prostitute. News story here
Jury acquitted of rape but were sure that D paid her for sexual services and knew she was under the age of 18.
R v A (2021) – Nottingham Crown Court. Defending. Client acquitted of multiple counts of marital Rape against a vulnerable complainant with mental health and learning difficulties.
R v H (2021) – Birmingham Crown Court. Defending. Multiple counts of sexual activity with a child. Defendant was a secondary school teacher who had formed a relationship with one of his pupils.
R v T (2020) – Birmingham Crown Court. Defending. Multiple rapes of 15 year old complainant with mental health difficulties.
R v H (2018) – Birmingham Crown Court. Defending. Client acquitted of Assault by Penetration, alleged to have been committed against a vulnerable adult complainant with learning difficulties and mental health issues.
R v D (2018) – Kingston Upon Thames Crown Court. Defending. Client acquitted of revenge porn offence.
R v H (2017)– Wolverhampton Crown Court. Defending. Client acquitted of both anal and vaginal Rape. Issue was consent.
R v W (2017)– Birmingham Crown Court: Defending. Client acquitted of sexual assault of 11 year old girl.
R v D (2017) – Central Criminal Court. Defending. Client charged with Administering a noxious substance with intent to commit a sexual offence. Crown persuaded to accept a plea to a common assault.
R v X (2015)– Southwark Crown Court: Defending. Vulnerable client with significant learning difficulties acquitted of sexual assault on a female
