Gerwyn Wise, of the Garden Court Crime Team, was led by Jenni Dempster KC of Red Lion Chambers. Counsel instructed by Adrienne Wright, Head of the Crime Team at TV Edwards LLP.
Gerwyn, led by Jenni Dempster KC at Red Lion Chambers, represented a 19 year old boy jointly charged with two others of both murder and attempted murder. The case was heard at Snaresbrook Crown Court before the Honorary Recorder of Redbridge, Her Honour Judge Dean.
The prosecution alleged that the client, at the time of the incident aged 17 years old, was one of five men involved in a planned knife attack of a rival group, which resulted in a fatal stabbing.
The client was one of three men identified by the police. The prosecution case was exclusively based upon the client’s presence and alleged joint participation in the attack through ‘force of numbers’.
Following careful analysis of both the CCTV footage and telephone evidence, Gerwyn and Jenni were able to prepare a document for the jury that demonstrated that the client was not only present for a very limited part of the incident – no more than eight seconds – but that he actively sought to clear a path for the victim to escape his attackers.
Following a three week trial, the jury unanimously acquitted the client of all charges. The two co-defendants were convicted of both murder and s.18 GBH.
