George Payne secures the acquittal of a young female defendant charged with two firearms offences at Oxford Crown Court

The defendant, who was aged 17 at the time of the alleged offences, was charged with possession of two firearms, one of which had been used in a shooting in Oxford on the night in question.

The case turned on the prosecution’s DNA evidence. Under cross-examination, the prosecution expert was compelled to accept that the defence analysis was correct. At the close of the prosecution case, and despite opposition from the CPS, the trial judge ruled that there was no case to answer and directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts.

George was instructed by Stephen Davies of Edwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors. He was assisted by defence forensic expert Jo Millington of Millington Hingley Ltd and by his pupil, Alexander Fagan.