Defended by Michael Holland KC, John Henry Sayers was acquitted of a section 18 GBH attack with a machete – after a three-week trial at the Old Bailey

Defended by Michael Holland KC, John Henry Sayers was acquitted of a section 18 GBH attack with a machete – after a three-week trial at the Old Bailey. John Henry Sayers carried a reputation as the leader of a serious organised crime group (which he denies). As such the trial was transferred to the Old Bailey from Newcastle. The prosecution accepted that  CCTV demonstrated his home was under an arson attack when the jury found he used the machete in reasonable self defence. His 13 year old daughter was in the premises at the time.

The successful defence was run without him giving evidence relying on the answers he gave in interview. The jury knew he was under siege from a rival organised crime group described by the prosecution as the Freeman group.

Widely reported in the press, the closing speech started with this reference to the fact that John Henry Sayers was being prosecuted for defending himself: ‘If you listen carefully you will hear the sound of laughter. It may be 295 miles to Newcastle but you can hear the Freemans laughing’.

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