Tommy Seagull

Notable Cases

Not guilty verdict after trial for attempted murder shooting
Led by Sasha Wass KC. Female defendant of good character charged with attempted murder. Acquitted after an eight-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court. The Crown’s case was that the six defendants were willing to kill for financial reward. Other defendants were charged with conspiracy to murder. Defendant alleged to be the getaway driver to a shooting in which staff and customers were held at gunpoint in a gym where the intended target was then chased in a car before being repeatedly shot at. Each defendant was represented by a King’s Counsel and junior. Prosecuted by King’s Counsel.

Acquittal at the Old Bailey after trial for attempted murder in east London shooting
Led by Gerwyn Wise. Represented first defendant on the indictment. Prosecuted by King’s Counsel. Acquitted of attempted murder, attempted GBH with intent, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and perverting the course of justice after a four week trial at the Central Criminal Court. Co-defended with Stella Harris and Letitia Duffus. The Crown’s case alleged that the defendants planned a targeted attack in east London where a firearm was discharged at two separate locations. Argued successfully on both hearsay and bad character evidence. Client required an intermediary throughout trial.

Not guilty verdicts for possession of firearms and supply of several kilograms of Class A drugs
Led by Gerwyn Wise. Unanimously acquitted after a four-week trial at Inner London Crown Court. One of three defendants charged on a 15-count indictment with possessing multiple firearms and being involved in a conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs. Co-defended with Mark Gatley KC. The prosecution case was that the defendants ran a large-scale ‘drugs factory’ in south London, supplying drugs from a property armed with semi-automatic guns and ammunition.

Representations on potential abuse of process leading to CPS offering no evidence
Prosecution offered no evidence at Isleworth Crown Court after representations were made outlining the basis for a potential ‘limb 2’ abuse of process argument. The defendant had been previously acquitted at an earlier trial but was subsequently charged with perverting the course of justice for his communications with the complainant’s employer. Concerns raised about the integrity of the police investigation in circumstances where the OIC was charged with gross misconduct in relation to conduct arising from the earlier case.

Not guilty by reason of insanity – absolute discharge imposed
Defendant, of previous good character, found not guilty by reason of insanity by jury at Southwark Crown Court after incident outside Buckingham Palace. Issues of schizophrenia, psychosis and persecutory delusions explored with psychiatrists.

Not guilty verdict for fourth-striker charged with supply of class A drugs
Unanimous not guilty verdict for defendant charged with a conspiracy to supply class A drugs at Wood Green Crown Court. Previous convictions for the supply of class A drugs adduced before jury. Both prosecution and defence drug experts agreed that the text messages ‘very likely’ referred to class A drugs. Defence case that the commodities referred to class B drugs. Trial presided over by Deputy High Court Judge.

Acquittal after trial in absence at Luton Crown Court
Trial in absence of a defendant charged with production of cannabis. Defendant previously attended court at the first trial listing but left before the case was called on. At the second trial listing, the Court proceeded in his absence. Cross-examination of the attending officer and OIC on various evidential issues and missed opportunities. Unanimously acquitted by jury at Luton Crown Court.

Not guilty verdict in drugs trial at the Old Bailey
Crown offered no evidence on supply of class A drugs after conceding an application to dismiss. Proceeded to trial on supply of class B drugs alone. Unanimously acquitted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court.

Vulnerable female found not guilty for possession of firearm and supply of Class A drugs
Female defendant unanimously acquitted after a seven-day trial at Isleworth Crown Court. Successful defence that her flat was ‘cuckooed’ by drug dealers who exploited her vulnerability (arising from drug addiction) to store a gun and drugs in her home. Defendant accepted knowledge and handling of the gun. Co-defended with Piers Mostyn.

Not guilty of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
Unanimous not guilty verdicts after a week-long trial at Wood Green Crown Court. Case involved delicate cross-examination of the complainant who was blind. Consideration of legal arguments on reasonable belief in consent relating to a non-fatal strangulation charge.

Elderly autistic client with advanced Parkinson’s disease prosecuted for serious violence
Defendant charged on a ten-count indictment for violence against his ex-wife. Acquitted on most serious charges after a nine-day trial at St. Albans Crown Court. Client was autistic and had advanced Parkinson’s disease with associated mobility, cognitive and mental health issues. Assisted at trial with an intermediary. Fitness to stand trial considered. Case involved cross-examination of a child witness.

Hospital Order for defendant suffering from Delusional Disorder
Defendant, with no known prior history of mental illness, diagnosed with Delusion Disorder which impaired his perceptions of reality and led to deeply entrenched false beliefs. Harrow Crown Court imposed a hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983 after offending relating to the use of knives.

Sentence aggravated for steering inflatable boat arriving in UK waters
Defendant was a Kurdish asylum seeker from Iraq intercepted by UK Border Force in UK waters on an inflatable boat with others. Charged with knowingly arriving in the UK without a valid entry clearance. Sentence aggravated because defendant steered the boat. At the time of sentencing, there was no Court of Appeal authority nor sentencing guideline for this offence.

Tommy previously worked as a paralegal at the Infected Blood Inquiry for two years. Alongside coordinating a team of five paralegals and conducting document reviews, he assisted in drafting Rule 9 questions to witnesses.

During pupillage, Tommy assisted his supervisor, Joanne Cecil KC, by undertaking research associated with work arising from the COVID-19 Inquiry.

He is currently instructed in a case in the High Court after an application for a writ of habeas corpus arising from the unlawful detention by a prison post-acquittal. By consent, the prison agreed to pay damages to the claimant for unlawful detention.