Daniella Davenport of the Garden Court Crime Team acted for the defendant, instructed by Pan Symeou and Alex Pierides of Faradays Solicitors.
Following a trial at Wood Green Crown Court, Daniella Davenport secured an acquittal for the client of both s.18 GBH and s.20 GBH in the alternative.
The case presented complex challenges, including analysis of CCTV evidence, raising failings in the police’s investigation, and tactical decisions regarding the ‘bad character’ of both the defendant and complainant.
The Crown’s case was that the defendant launched an unprovoked attack on the complainant with a knife, all of which was on CCTV. Daniella provided careful presentation of the evidence, including succeeding in a non-defendant bad character application.
Through this, she was able to demonstrate that, whilst the defendant may have made the first physical contact, he was not the aggressor in the situation due to the complainant racially abusing the defendant first. Daniella was able to skilfully take the defendant through the evidence and cast significant doubt as to whether it was actually a knife in the defendant’s hand.
Daniella provided compelling argument in a closing speech to the jury, who acquitted the defendant after less than a day of deliberations.
Daniella Davenport
Daniella specialises in criminal defence law and has an interest in criminal youth justice. Daniella has a broad practice across the Crown Court, Youth Court, and Magistrates Court, with experience in complex cases and youth trials.
Daniella is accepting instructions. To get in touch with Daniella’s clerks, please contact crimeclerksmailbox@gclaw.co.uk
