Lucie Wibberley was instructed by up-and-coming solicitor Femi Halil of ITN Solicitors
The defendant was acquitted by a Crown Court jury on 3 July of possession of a firearm.
The all-female legal team secured relevant disclosure through carefully targeted requests and Femi, known for her attention to detail, worked hard to secure a range of defence material and understand the defendant’s life story.
This allowed the team to run a detailed, ‘character in’ defence case, providing the jury with an opportunity to scrutinise and consider the way in which gang structures utilise male on male violence as a mechanism of control, and the life-threatening risks that accrue for men who seek to defy ‘elder’ male gang leaders.
The defendant, formerly involved with gangs, is now committed to a life free of gang involvement. He was under duress at the time of his possession of the gun.
In high demand for her powerful closing speeches, this case marks Lucie’s second firearms acquittal this year and maintains her unbroken 2026 record of trial acquittals all of which have been in areas of criminal law traditionally dominated by male legal teams – terrorism, murder and firearms.
