Unanimous murder and manslaughter acquittal following a two-month trial at the Central Criminal Court

Manveer Cheema, led by Melanie Simpson KC, secured the only unanimous murder and manslaughter acquittal following a two-month trial at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey).

Their client, the lead defendant in the case, was alleged to have organised and participated in the killing and robbery of a rival drug dealer in what was described as a highly sophisticated ‘trap’.

The Crown, represented by Treasury Counsel, alleged that the defendant had played a ‘leading role’, acquiring false number plates for the mission vehicle the day before the murder, recruiting and organising the ‘team of robbers’, being forensically linked to the scene of the murder by way of DNA and cell-site evidence, having turned off his phone during the time of the murder and later disposing of it, and having driven knife-wielding attackers away from the scene at speed.

The two co-defendants were unanimously convicted of murder/manslaughter.

Counsel were instructed and expertly assisted by Tai-ann Fadayomi and Maha Mussallam of Banks and Partners.

BBC News story here