Outstanding acquittal in cut-throat murder trial.

Julia Smart KC, leading Jon Swain, secures remarkable acquittal in a multi-handed murder re-trial lasting 9 weeks at Reading Crown Court. Instructed initially by Caroline Snodgrass (now at Reeds), and subsequently by Claire Hewitt of ABV Solicitors, this was complex multi-handed trial in which the defendant was an admitted participant in a robbery of drug dealers that went wrong, resulting in the fatal stabbing of one dealer, and the serious wounding of another. The Crown characterised this as a revenge attack in a turf war between rival operators of County Lines, with the robbery as a minor component of the attack, which it alleged was really to deal with the refusal of the dealers to leave High Wycombe, by killing or seriously hurting them. A co-defendant carried out the attack in a confined space, in the presence of 3 co-defendants, who were said to be participants in a joint enterprise, encouraging, or assisting. Despite admitting participation in the unlawful act of robbery, the defence achieved acquittal of murder and the alternative of manslaughter of V1, and the attempted murder, alternatively wounding, of V2. The co-defendant who stabbed and wounded sought to suggest the robbery was nothing to do with him, and so needed to draw the defendant into the responsibility for his acts which he falsely claimed were in self-defence. He gave evidence but was skilfully cross-examined to effect by Julia Smart KC, demonstrating that he was on a mission of his own in attacking the victims. In turn, the defendant was enabled, through his evidence in chief, to explain the reality of what happened in that attack, and how he tried to prevent it happening, when the co-defendant exploded into violence.

A highly persuasive closing speech from Julia Smart KC secured the remarkable acquittal, of murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, and wounding with intent.