Michael Goold of the Garden Court Crime Team acted for the defendant, instructed by Katie Lockhart of Holborn Adams Solicitors.
Michael Goold secured the acquittal of a defendant following a complex three-week manslaughter trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Michael’s client had previously pleaded guilty to an assault causing grievous bodily harm against the victim. The victim had suffered a severe brain injury and developed epilepsy. He died 13 months after the assault. The prosecution’s case was that the victim died as a result of the epilepsy caused by the client’s assault.
Michael was initially instructed on the basis that the client intended to plead guilty. However, on reviewing the pathology evidence, Michael identified that the victim had also suffered from advanced heart disease which was also capable of having caused his sudden death, unrelated to any injuries arising from the assault.
Following advice from Michael, his client took the matter to trial on the issue of causation.
The highly complex trial involved multiple medical expert witnesses. Michael cross-examined a Consultant Neurologist, a Consultant Histopathologist specialising in cardiology, and a Consultant Forensic Pathologist, who were all called by the prosecution.
This necessitated detailed research and forensic questioning on issues of neurology, cardiology and pathology. Following Michael’s cross-examination, all the prosecution expert witnesses agreed that they could not be definitive about the cause of death. In addition, Michael called evidence from a Consultant Cardiologist and a further Consultant Forensic Pathologist.
The jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict. Michael acted alone for the defendant in this case, which was prosecuted by a senior KC and junior counsel before the Resident Judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
