Crime

• Dealing with Criminal Matters from Murder to Motoring Offences
• Specialists in Serious Crime and Miscarriages of Justice
• Available and on Call 24 Hours a Day / 365 Days a Year- Emergency Number – 07710 367 398
• All Work is Claimed Under Legal Aid Where Available

GORDON PETERS

The Criminal Defence and Appeals Team based in our Moseley office is headed by GORDON PETERS, who qualified as a solicitor in 1990 and was accredited as a Court and Police Station Duty Solicitor a couple of years later. He attends Magistrates’ Courts and police stations on a daily basis. His methodical approach to preparation and calm approach to advocacy guarantee a high quality service. Gordon has a formidable record of victories in Magistrates’ Court trials. He deals with general crime from private motoring matters to murder. A client with numerous convictions for serious offences recently praised Gordon’s, “Beautiful performance” and “Great job” in court. Other clients have described Gordon as “An unsung hero”.

MASLEN MERCHANT

Heads our Crown Court and Appeals Team and has over 25 years of specialist experience in these areas. He is a member of the steering committee for the Criminal Appeal Lawyers’ Association. Thorough and hardworking with a no nonsense, uncompromising approach, he has been described by barristers he has worked with as “One of the best appeal lawyers in England”, “Brilliant”, “Impressive” and “A leader in his field”. After one successful appeal against conviction, the client described him as “Beyond compare”. He is also an accredited Police Station Representative.

JANE SIDDONS

Is a vibrant member of the department, has a depth of experience as a criminal solicitor dealing with the full range of offences, being one of the first female solicitors to join the Birmingham Duty Solicitor Scheme in the 1980s. She specialises in representing professionals such as teachers, who are accused of assault or sexual misconduct. One teacher said that Jane “Went that extra mile”. A Head Master who she successfully defended commented that, “She was enthusiastic and energetic but her greatest asset was her ability to communicate.”

LAURA KILLWORTH

Laura is currently training as a fee earner in the Criminal Department, having worked at the firm since 2006. She provides invaluable assistance with Crown Court and Criminal Appeal matters.

OUR EXPERIENCED, QUALIFIED LAWYERS CAN ADVISE AND ASSIST YOU REGARDING THE FOLLOWING CRIMINAL MATTERS:

 

Free Legal Advice available to all for:

• Police Interviews
• Identification Procedures
• Voluntary Interviews

Free Legal Advice (subject to means testing) for non-police investigations and interviews including:

• Benefits Fraud Investigations
• Job Centre Interviews
• Health and Safety Executive Investigations
• Trading Standards Investigations

Our lawyers approach the interview and investigation stage of a prosecution as the first line of defence. We are available 24 hours a day to attend clients in custody at police stations, or attending for interview by appointment and to give telephone advice to people in custody at police stations. We aim to ensure that the interview forms a sound basis for the defence of the case from the start. We specialise in helping clients who are particularly vulnerable, such as young people and people with mental health problems and learning difficulties.

• Representation At Magistrates’, Youth And Crown Courts:</li>
• Trials / Guilty Pleas / Sentence / Mitigation

We can represent you in connection with all criminal cases including offences of violence, dishonesty, drugs, sexual offences, benefit fraud and motoring matters.

Our solicitors represent clients in the Magistrates’ Courts in and around Birmingham on a daily basis. With an uncompromising approach to defence of clients we always aim to achieve the best outcome, whether it be a not guilty verdict or a fair sentence.

In the Crown Court, we maintain a high caseload of serious crime, regularly dealing with homicide (we have dealt with prosecutions involving multiple homicide and serial murder), firearms offences, robbery, violence, drug offences, gang related crime and sex offences as well as offences across the whole range of the criminal law.

Whether in the Magistrates’ or Crown Court, we will stand up to the police and prosecution on your behalf and fight your corner, always acting in our clients’ best interests. With the stakes so high, we offer an aggressive, proactive approach to our clients’ defence coupled with thoroughness and sheer hard work.

We give no nonsense, straightforward advice, which you will understand.

• We are one of the Country’s Leading Miscarriage of Justice Firms and Members of The Criminal Appeal Lawyers’ Association.
• Appeals Against Conviction
• Criminal Cases Review Commission Applications
• Criminal Offences Inside Prison
• Breaches Of Orders
• ASBOs / SOPOs

The end of the court case does not mean the end of our expertise and the help that we can offer our clients.

The firm is a member of the Criminal Appeal Lawyers’ Association and has regular conduct of matters in the Court of Appeal, representing clients who are already convicted of a wide range of offences including murder, robbery and serious sexual offences, who instruct us after they are wrongly convicted. We work with barristers who are recognised as some of the country’s leading miscarriage of justice experts.

We regularly receive recommendations and referrals from a number of campaigning organisations including West Midlands Against Injustice and INNOCENT as well as journalists, other firms of solicitors, doctors, expert witnesses, counsel and existing clients.

We submit a large number of applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission each year, highlighting a vast range of issues including police corruption, non-disclosure, fresh evidence, new expert opinion and incompetent defence work by the trial lawyers. We recently obtained our nineteenth referral to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

R v J.M. and R.C. House of Lords: the clients’ convictions for wounding with intent and other offences were quashed, following successful argument concerning whether the trial indictment was lawful.

R v A.B. Court of Appeal: appeal against conviction for armed robbery based on the discovery of previously undisclosed evidence, fresh expert evidence and alleged incompetence of trial lawyers.

R v A.L. Court of Appeal: the client’s convictions for allegedly gang related offences of attempted murder, armed robbery, firearms offences, kidnapping, blackmail and false imprisonment were quashed. Following this case one officer was reported as saying that the police “were taught a lesson in disclosure by the defence solicitors”.

R v A.R. Court of Appeal: the client’s convictions for manslaughter and assault with intent to rob were quashed. Reported in the Times Law Reports. This remains a leading case on disclosure concerning prosecution witnesses and reward money.

R v “C” Crown Court: alleged attempt by a “notorious gangster” to pervert the course of justice by bribing a witness to give evidence in the court of appeal. He was found not guilty.

R v C.C. Crown Court: alleged gangland shootings; the client was charged with two separate attempted murders and firearms offences. Five witnesses named him as the gunman. He was found not guilty of all charges.

R v “D” Court of Appeal: gangland murder. Conviction quashed following the discovery of evidence of widespread police corruption and the mishandling of an informant.

R v D.F. Court of Appeal Following Reference by CCRC: : a successful appeal against convictions for involvement in large scale drugs offences based on fresh evidence of police corruption.

R v D.L.H. Court of Appeal: conviction for armed robbery quashed. We uncovered fresh evidence that proved that a police officer had deliberately changed an exhibit reference in order to convict the client, for which she faced disciplinary action after the successful appeal. The case attracted national publicity.

R v D.I. Crown Court: the prosecution alleged that the client was a serial rapist who attacked prostitutes at knifepoint. He was acquitted of eleven charges. The case received national publicity [including The Times Newspaper] when the police took out an ASBO against the client before he was charged.

R v G. D. Crown Court: the client faced four charges of murder and arson with intent to endanger life. The case received national publicity.

R v G.E.H. Court of Appeal: the client’s conviction for conspiracy to rob was quashed. The client was convicted of being the inside man in a £6.5 million cash in transit robbery [the largest cash in transit robbery ever in the UK]. Fresh expert evidence explained his actions at the scene when faced with the gunman.

R v G.J.H. and J.L.D. Court of Appeal: Convictions for of a gang related murder quashed as a result of fresh evidence which significantly undermined the main prosecution witness’s credibility. JD’s case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the CCRC. Both clients were released after serving 11 years of a life sentence. The case received national publicity.

R v H.D. Court of Appeal following reference by CCRC: an appeal against a statutory minimum term imposed for possession of a firearm following developments in case law after sentence at the Crown Court.

R v J.D. Crown Court: the client faced charges including manslaughter, with five co-defendants. The main issue in the case was cause of death. The client was found not guilty of all charges. The case received national publicity

R v L.D. Court of Appeal: conviction for robbery quashed as a result of fresh evidence from a co-accused.

R v L.F. Court of Appeal following reference by CCRC: convictions for drug offences quashed following the discrediting of officers from the West Midlands Police drug squad.

R v M.C. Court of Appeal: appeal involving allegedly gang related murder and attempted murders, argument centred on the purported identification of the client by a police officer from video footage.

R v P.R. Court of Appeal following reference by CCRC: conviction for murder quashed. Reported in the Times Law Reports. Fresh expert evidence showed the client was particularly susceptible to provocation at the time of the offence.

R v S.L. Court of Appeal following reference by CCRC: convictions for sexual offences, including rape, referred to the court of appeal after we submitted nineteen pieces of fresh evidence.

R v V.B. M.B. & M.B. Court of Appeal Following Reference by CCRC: we represented all three appellants in their successful appeal against a murder conviction based upon fresh evidence casting doubt on the original evidence of the Home Office pathologist relating to cause of death.

R v V.L.D. Court of Appeal Following Reference by CCRC: client convicted of drugs offences, case referred to the Court based on fresh evidence relating to police corruption.

R v G.C. Sandwell Magistrates’ Court: Client had been convicted in absence of driving offences resulting in six points being endorsed on his licence. Assisted client in getting conviction re-opened and set aside on grounds that client had not received notice of the proceedings and that he had sold the relevant vehicle prior to date of offence.

R v J.B. Carmarthenshire Magistrates’ Court: Client driving on EU licence. Prosecuted for not having a licence, which meant that he also faced no insurance. We produced evidence to police resulting in withdrawal of licence and insurance offences. Court dealt with him for no MOT only.

R v J.H. Solihull Magistrates’ Court: Client summoned to appear in court for driving without due care and attention. His licence and job were at risk. Police agreed to drop case for him to attend a Driver Improvement Course, thereby avoiding points and possible disqualification.

R v K.B. Aylesbury Magistrates’ Court: Client summoned to court on admitted speeding offence. He already had points on his licence. In view of high speed, client given careful advice about pros and cons of discretionary disqualification/six points on licence. We represented him at Court. Twenty eight day ban imposed.

R v R.K. Birmingham Magistrates’ Court: Client summoned to court for driving without insurance and failing to produce documents. We wrote to CPS for her pointing out errors made by her husband’s Insurance Company and that she could not produce her licence in time as it was with DVLA. As no reply was received, we attended court for her. The Prosecutor agreed to drop the charges. Defence costs order made.

R v S.A. Banbury Magistrates’ Court: Client summoned for dangerous driving on motorway, involving high speed in poor conditions. Client admitted rushing back to Birmingham due to medical concerns about his child. We represented him at Court. He avoided prison on guilty plea to dangerous driving.

R v S.H. Birmingham Magistrates’ Court: We prepared for and represented client (taxi driver) on trial for using handheld device while driving. Client gave evidence that device was for receiving information only, not a two way communication device. Verdict – Not Guilty. Defence costs order made.

R v T.W. Solihull Magistrates’ Court: Client had attended court unrepresented and been banned from driving. We successfully applied to re-open the conviction and put forward an “exceptional hardship” submission on his behalf reducing the ban from six months to two months.