R v EN – Central Criminal Court 2019 (Defence Counsel)
Secured the unanimous acquittal of a 20 year old male on an indictment containing five counts of Possession of Firearms and Ammunition with Intent to Endanger Life. Two shotguns were found loaded with live ammunition at a storage cupboard following the execution of a firearms warrant. The Crown’s case was based on fingerprint evidence from the cupboard and DNA from the muzzle of one of the shotguns. The defence was one of no possession and secondary transfer of DNA. A jury unanimously acquitted on firearm 2 but were hung on firearm 1. At the retrial, the jury unanimously acquitted on all remaining counts in 28 minutes.
R v AG – Kingston Crown Court 2019 (Defence Counsel)
Secured the unanimous acquittal of a man of effective good character accused of possessing knives in a public place. The defendant was escorted off a bus after reports that he was sharpening a large saw on the top deck. Upon further search, police located a further five blades. The defendant advanced that he had a good reason in that he was on his way to his allotment. He was unanimously acquitted after trial.
R v TR – Snaresbrook Crown Court 2018 (Defence Counsel)
Successful application to dismiss counts of Robbery and Handling Stolen Goods after service of Stage 1. The defendant was accused of two robberies and handling the proceeds in the alternative. He accepted presence at the first robbery but advanced non-participation. The application was made on a Jogee argument for the first robbery. The Handling alternative was dismissed due to key flaws that were identified in the prosecution evidence with bankcard receipts. The second robbery was based on recent possession, and following strong encouragement from the court, the crown offered no evidence.
R v SG – Inner London Crown Court Jun 2018 (Defence Counsel for D1)
Successful submission of no case to answer on behalf of D1 in a 5 handed case of affray. The defendant was accused of taking part in a large street affray involving weapons after confronting a male who had attacked his brother earlier in the day. The defence was one of no participation.
R v DR – Kingston Crown Court Mar 2018 (Defence Counsel)
Successful Newton hearing in a case involving grooming/sexual activity with a child under 16 years, breach of a SHPO and breach of a SSO. The Newton was decided without evidence on oath from the Defendant after successful submissions about D’s learning disabilities making him too vulnerable to give evidence. An earlier request for an intermediary had been refused. The defendant was sentenced to a new SSO.
R v KH and WH – Isleworth Crown Court Jan 2018 (Defence Counsel for D1)
Defence Counsel for the first defendant mother accused of 9 counts of cruelty to a child under 16. Following careful cross-examination of the child witness, the first defendant was acquitted by the jury of all physical assault charges alleged.
R v CT – Central Criminal Court Jan 2018 (Defence Counsel)
Secured the unanimous acquittal of a man accused of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. The defendant had possession of a metal bar outside his home address and used it to strike two males who had been attacking his house. The defence raised was self defence as a reasonable excuse.
R v BH – Central Criminal Court Dec 2017 (Defence Counsel)
Successfully defended a young woman accused of 5 counts of possessing articles for use in fraud. The defendant was stopped in a shopping centre having attempted to use counterfeit credit cards to buy items of clothing. The defendant averred that she did not know the credit cards were counterfeit. She had been targeted by a group of males posing as a modelling agency. They instructed her to go and buy items as a ‘stylist’ for them. The Learned Recorder presiding over this case has described Shannon’s legal knowledge and advocacy as ‘excellent.’
R v PA – Shrewsbury Crown Court Dec 2017 (Defence Counsel)
Secured the unanimous acquittal after trial of a Ghanaian female accused of possessing an identity document with improper intent and 5 counts of fraud. The defendant was trafficked to the UK and was told by her traffickers that she was here on a student visa. She was supplied with a false home office letter giving her indefinite leave to remain and used it over a 16 year period. The defence advanced was that she did not know the document was false and had not made representations with it that she knew to be false.
R v KL – Central Criminal Court Nov 2017 (Prosecution Counsel)
Secured the conviction of a man who continually returned to the UK after deportation to Poland in order to commit burglaries. The defendant advanced that he was in custody in Poland throughout the indictment period, which was disproved by cross border information sharing, international information requests and identification evidence. The defendant was unanimously convicted after trial.