Rhiannon is an extremely experienced, highly committed and fearless criminal defence practitioner.
Over her career, she has been instructed in over 50 murder trials and regularly defends those accused of terrorism, firearms, gang-related crime and fraud.
Rhiannon has developed an impressive reputation across the board, being described by lay clients as “outstanding”; by her instructing solicitors as “a leading light in her profession”, and by the Judiciary as “first class”. It is hardly surprising, therefore that she is consistently instructed in high profile and unusual cases that generate considerable media interest.
Rhiannon puts client care at the heart of her practice. She is particularly approachable to lay and professional clients alike and regularly complemented by lay clients for her down-to-earth approach and fearless commitment to those she defends. She is particularly adept in cases with religious and cultural sensitivities, as well as those defendants who are considered vulnerable – she considers that her past expertise in human rights and immigration law, appearing in the High Court and Court of Appeal, has provided her with an excellent foundation in this regard.
Criminal Defence - Notable Cases
Overview
Murder
- R v L & Ors [2025] Five-handed double gang murders CCC; client extradited from Kosovo to stand trial
- R v P & Anr [2025]– Attempted murder of four-month old baby; shaking injuries – represented defendant pleaded to neglect and received suspended sentence
- R v M [2025] Leading Counsel – Attempted murder of newborn baby by shaking injuries; represented defendant received suspended sentence on plea on s5
- R v C & Ors [2024] – Multi-handed ‘gang’ murder
- R v AS & Ors [2024] – Sole acquittals on all murder, attempted murder and firearms counts following a 12-week trial at the Central Criminal Court. News story here
- R v Bamidele & Anr [2023] –Drugs war-related ‘gang’ murder
- R v M [2023] – brutal slaying of ex-wife by estranged husband
- R v G [2023] defenestration murder of domestic partner. Pros ONE murder and G plea to manslaughter by unlawful act accepted.
- R v Tianna Edwards-Hancock & Ors – [2023] Three men and two women were found guilty of a “honeytrap” killing, in which the victim suffered severe blows to the head. Rhiannon’s client Tiana was cleared of murder, manslaughter and conspiracy to rob despite cut-throat defences of four co-defendants. News story here
- R v Asad Shariff [2024] – Sole acquittals on all murder, attempted murder and firearms counts following a 12-week trial at the Central Criminal Court. News story here
- R v Tianna Edwards Hancock [2023] Three men and two women were found guilty of a “honeytrap” killing, in which the victim suffered severe blows to the head. Rhiannon’s client Tiana was cleared of murder, manslaughter and conspiracy to rob. News story here
- R v H [2023] – Charged with the murder of Jordan Stuart, his long-time friend D claimed accident in self-defence when attacked with a knife by the deceased despite a prosecution eye-witness account of deliberate stabbing. Rhiannon’s devastating cross-examination of the principal eyewitness exposing his dishonesty, and the deceased’s violence led to D’s acquittal of both murder and manslaughter. News story here
- R v K & Ors [2022] – Represented defendant was charged as part of an OCG with the fatal shooting in broad daylight of Imani-Allaway-Muir. The shooting was a joint enterprise act of revenge for robbery of a drug dealer. D was said to have acted as a ‘spotter’ in the seconds before the shooting and disposed of the firearm afterwards. D claimed no knowledge of the impending shooting, and following extensive cross-examination, including Rhiannon’s skilful cross-examination of the OIC to demonstrate Ds subordinate role in the OCG, D was acquitted of murder.
Other notable murder trials
- R v O & Ors [2019] – Representing one of four defendants charged with the murder of 17 year’ old Jodie Chesney at Central Criminal Court.
- R v P [2019]– D charged with murder of her own 7 month’ old child. Complex expert medical issues. Acquitted of murder.
- R v B & Ors [2018]– Murder– ‘Ponders End Shooting’ – ‘gang’-related murder of Russell Jones in context of ongoing gang war in Enfield, North London. Ambush attack in Ponders End on group of which deceased was a part of by four attackers armed with a knife and shotgun. Led Junior; led by Charlie Sherrard KC
- R v K & Ors [2017] – The ‘Pentonville Murder’. Alleged murder over control of prison contraband – drugs and weapons. Acquitted of murder and manslaughter.
Terrorism
- R v A [2021] – Jihadi terrorism – preparation of ISIS inspired mass terrorist attack; undercover operative investigation; extensive multi-media evidence case defendant had wide family terrorism links. News story here
- R v MS & Anr [2019] – Teenage alleged extreme right-wing/neo-Nazi sympathisers charged with encouragement of terrorism and possession of terrorist material, BBC, Independent
- R v A & Ors [2018] – Possession of terrorist materials. D allegedly part of extended family sharing Jihadi mindset involved in the distribution and collection of terrorist material, Daily Telegraph
Conspiracy to Defraud
- R v B [2025-6] – Instructed for Company Director in alleged large-scale betting algorithm fraud
Firearms
- R v Tokosi [2025] – Attempted murder; execution-style shooting by rapper ‘Digdat’
- R v Tokosi & Ors [2025] – Possession of firearms
- R v McKennon & Ors [2023] – Leading Counsel – Leading Alex Rose of Garden Court – Multiple shootings, attempted murder (instructed by Abu Kibla, Stuart Miller & Co)
Rape and serious sexual offences
- R v K [2025] – Represented an imam of a large London Mosque indicted on serious sexual offences against multiple women & girls spanning 20 years
- R v J [2023] – Alleged rape of customer by black cab driver (acquitted). News story here
- R v M & Ors [2024] – Vulnerable defendant accused of rape of 12 year-old and further gang rape of child
- R v M [2023] – Multiple stranger rape allegations
- R v Shinn [2022] – Complex child abuse case involving four alleged victims who were pupils at school in UAE at which the defendant was a teacher. Reported case.
