Not guilty verdict in knifing case

Quentin represented a Miss SM who was accused of cutting her partner’s neck with a kitchen knife during a domestic incident in Chichester.

Despite repeated insistence by Quentin that the case be discontinued the Crown Prosecution Service chose to pursue the case to trial.

At trial Quentin made legal submissions that the interview of the defendant be excluded due to lack of procedural fairness during the lead up to the interview taking place. The Court agreed with Quentin’s submissions and any evidence from the interview was deemed inadmissible under s76 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

During trial there was extensive cross examination of the prosecution witnesses. Following this cross examination Quentin was able to submit that the Prosecution case had been so discredited that it should be stopped at the close of the prosecution case- a submission of ‘no case to answer’. This submission was successful; the Court found that there was no case to answer and a Not Guilty verdict was entered. Quentin also made a successful application that SM’s costs should be reimbursed.

Quentin has an excellent track record in cases of assault and is particularly effective in cases requiring sensitive cross examination of prosecution witnesses. If you find yourself accused of a criminal offence please contact Quentin for a free, informal no obligation conversation about your case.