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Sam Parham is a busy criminal defence practitioner, regularly instructed in serious cases. He has an expertise in human trafficking cases and the operation of the statutory defence for victims of trafficking under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. He advises on a wide range of appellate cases, including appeals against conviction and sentence in historic cases. Sam is Public Access qualified.

Criminal Defence

Overview

Sam is a busy criminal defence practitioner who is regularly instructed in cases concerning serious violence, sexual offences, drug trafficking and fraud.

Notable Cases

Murder 

Aaron McKenzie (2020) Central Criminal Court
Sam represented AM who was charged with the murder of his ex-partner, Kelly Fauvrelle, who was almost 9 months pregnant at the time and the manslaughter of her baby. He was born by caesarean section as she died but tragically died himself days later. Reported by the BBC.

Andrew Murrell (2019) Snaresbrook Crown Court
Sam was sole counsel for AM, who was acquitted the attempted murder of his former friend. M had been accused of deliberately running him over three times with his van.

Alex Glanfield-Collis (2019) Central Criminal Court
Sam acted for AGC, who was acquitted of the murder of her partner. She had been the victim of coercive control and successfully argued that the partial defence of loss of control applied. Reported by the BBC.

Dwayne Edgar & others (2019) Bristol Crown Court
Sam represented DE at his re-trial for an allegation of the murder of man in broad daylight in Cardiff in 2016. He and two other men had been convicted at an original trial but the convictions were overturned when evidence of close contact between a juror and a police officer closely involved with the case was established. Reported in the Sun

Can Taycur & others (2018) St. Albans Crown Court
Sam represented CT who was acquitted of the murder of a man who had travelled from London to collect money following a scam committed by CT and his friend. Reported by the BBC.

Dean Copeland (2016) Central Criminal Court
Sam was junior counsel for DC who was alleged to have murdered a man on his doorstep in Battersea by shooting him at point blank range. DC was acquitted of murder. Reported in the Evening Standard.

Sexual offences

DCR (2020) Leicester Crown Court
Sam acted for DCR who was charged with the rape and false imprisonment of two 13 year old girls who he had supplied with alcohol and nitrous oxide. Reported by the BBC.

TF (2020) Swindon Crown Court
Sam represented TF who was acquitted of the rape of his 15 year old step-sister. Reported in the local press.

PN (2019) Lewes Crown Court
Sam represented PN who was acquitted of a series of sexual assaults inside a care home.

JV (2019) Blackfriars Crown Court
Sam acted for JV who was accused of a series of sexual assaults, including on the police officer who was interviewing him under caution in respect of earlier sexual offences.

ER (2018) Blackfriars Crown Court
Sam represented ER, a healthcare worker at the Whittington Hospital, charged with sexual assaults on bed-bound patients.

MI (2017) Snaresbrook Crown Court
Sam represented MI, a 13 year old boy who was acquitted of the rape of his 14 year old cousin.

Drugs, fraud & money laundering

ME (2020) Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court
Sam was instructed as leading counsel, representing ME who was charged in relation to a large conspiracy to move stolen property, including very rare books, out of the country to Romania. Reported in the Guardian.

Louise St. John Poulton (2020), Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court
Sam acted for LSJP who was charged with a conspiracy to defraud in relation to the sale of illegally farmed puppies.

Danielle Avery (2019) Woolwich Crown Court
Sam acted for DA who was charged with possession of a kilo of cocaine with intent to supply. She was acquitted by the jury who convicted her co-defendant who had falsely accused her of framing him.

Damian Clarke (2019) Croydon Crown Court
Sam represented DC who was accused of the importation of cocaine in food packets from Jamaica.

Contact Sam

Criminal Appeals

Overview

Sam has a successful appellate practice and regularly advises on a wide range of appellate cases, including advising on appeals against conviction and sentence in historic cases.

Notable Cases

Christopher Whatcott [2019] EWCA Crim 1889
Re: legality of contractual terms in a fraudulent trading case

Kamrun Sakera [2019] EWCA Crim 2186
Sentence reduced in fraud case following Sam’s submissions

Zepheana Badley [2018] EWCA Crim 2842
Re: extended sentences; mental disorder

Jamie Ryan & others [2018] EWCA Crim 2517
Re: sentencing in firearms/ammunition cases

Kiel Melbourne & others [2018] EWCA Crim 3111
Re: sentencing in drugs trafficking cases

Contact Sam

Notable Cases & News

Garden Court Chambers revises policy on Stratford Magistrates' Court

23 May 2024

Garden Court Chambers statement on security searches at Stratford Magistrates' Court

8 May 2024

Garden Court Chambers and Garden Court North remember Ian Macdonald QC

Garden Court Chambers and Garden Court North were honoured to host a memorial event for Ian Macdonald QC 1939-2019 at Middle Temple Hall on Tuesday 7 February 2023.

17 February 2023

Garden Court secures top tier rankings in the Legal 500 2023

Garden Court Chambers is proud to be recognised as a Top Tier set again in the Legal 500.

30 September 2022

Members of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team support escalating proposed CBA action to include days of action

17 June 2022

Stephanie Harrison QC, Chair and Joint Head of Garden Court Chambers, comments on the Nationality and Borders Bill receiving Royal Assent

29 April 2022

Garden Court Crime Team statement on no returns action

30 March 2022

Garden Court secures number one rankings in Chambers UK Bar Guide 2022

21 October 2021

Garden Court Chambers Crime Team shortlisted for Crime Set of the Year by Chambers Bar Awards 2021

We are delighted to announce that the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team has been shortlisted by the Chambers Bar Awards 2021 for Crime Set of the Year.

27 August 2021

High Court significant victory for victims of trafficking and modern slavery in DPP v M

Brenda Campbell QC and Sam Parham of the Garden Court Chambers Criminal Defence Team have secured a significant victory for victims of trafficking and modern slavery in DPP v M in the Divisional Court.

15 December 2020

GBH case dismissed following successful defence application

Sam Parham, of the Garden Court Criminal Defence Team, was instructed by Cislyn Spence at Edward Fail Bradshaw & Waterson.

2 December 2020

Garden Court Chambers sponsor London Criminal Courts Solicitors' Association's Annual Autumn Conference 2017

The LCCSA Annual Autumn Conference took place in Seville from 7-8 October.

12 October 2017

'Flexible' Operating Hours pilot postponed until next year following concerns raised by Garden Court Chambers Crime Team and legal profession

On 18 September 2017 the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team sent an open letter to Lord Justice Fulford.

18 September 2017

Garden Court and Stephanie Harrison QC shortlisted for Human Rights and Public Law awards

Garden Court has been shortlisted at the Chambers Bar Awards, whilst Stephanie and our Public Law Team are shortlisted at the Legal 500 Awards.

21 October 2016

Battersea shooting: prosecution accept plea to manslaughter

The defendant was represented by James Scobie QC and Sam Parham of Garden Court, instructed by Saadiya Ahmad of Dexter Henry solicitors.

12 October 2016

Sam Parham speaks at the Annual Grange Conference, the Medico-Legal Event of the Year for Mental Health Professionals

Sam Parham is a member of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team.

29 September 2016

Garden Court wins Legal 500 crime set of the year award

The winners in these awards are chosen by the Legal 500 as a result of thousands of interviews with firms, sets and counsel.

8 October 2015

Cell-site evidence proves man’s innocence

Sam Parham and Yvonne Kramo of Garden Court Chambers represented the defendant.

16 September 2015

Two defendants acquitted of stabbing

Sam Parham and Michael Goold of Garden Court Chambers represented the defendants.

10 September 2015

Voting Yes in the Criminal Bar Association Ballot

Sam Parham, Jo Cecil and Catherine Oborne of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team urge the undecided to vote yes in the Criminal Bar Association ballot.

14 July 2015

Access to Justice in the Age of Austerity

Sam Parham joins panel at Palace of Westminster to discuss current threat to justice.

8 July 2015

Young man cleared of murder whilst his co-defendant girlfriend is cleared of perverting the course of justice

The defendants were represented by Catherine Oborne, Nerida Harford-Bell and Sam Parham.

7 January 2015

Defendant acquitted for calling police officer a Taff

Mr Davis, represented by Sam Parham and Catherine Oborne, cleared of racially aggravated harassment.

8 September 2014

Richard Harvey delivers final declaration at IADL conference

Richard Harvey joined by Garden Court barristers at the International Association of Democratic Lawyers in Brussels.

24 April 2014

All related news

Training and Seminars

Sam has been actively involved with the Criminal Bar Association’s campaigns to improve remuneration for criminal practitioners and has been involved in the drafting of CBA responses to all recent government consultations.

He has guest lectured on advocacy and criminal law at the London School of Economics, Birkbeck College, the University of Law and the University of West London.

He has recently lectured on human trafficking and modern slavery and has written on knife crime: https://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/moral-panic

Education

  • LLB (Hons), London School of Economics (1999)
  • BVC, Inns of Court School of Law (2000)

Professional Membership

We are top ranked by independent legal directories and consistently win awards.

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