Michael Fitton QC
Degree: MA (Oxon)
Year of call and Inn: 1991; Gray’s Inn
Appointments: QC 2006 Recorder 2000 (Crown Court)
Professional Membership: Western Circuit; CBA
Practice:
Michael Fitton is Head of Albion Chambers. He is a specialist in criminal law, and undertakes prosecution and defence work. He is on the approved counsel list for the CPS Fraud Prosecution Service.
Michael has extensive experience of serious crime in particular homicide and fraud. He has particular interest in cases involving psychiatric issues, disadvantaged defendants and witnesses, and ‘gross negligence’ manslaughter.
He joined Albion Chambers in 1991, after ten years practice as a solicitor, including six years as a partner in a Bristol law firm, conducting legal aid work.
Current cases include:
Prosecutions for murder; defence for murder; prosecution of ‘gross negligence’ manslaughter.
Recent cases of interest:
Murder: R v S and S – 2009; prosecution of young defendants charged with killing Joe Dymond Williams in Bristol city centre;
Murder: R v B – 2009; defence of one of a group charged with killing in Reading city centre;
Murder: R v AB – 2008; defence of a young female with ADHD charged with killing at St. Paul’s Festival 2007;
Murder: R v P and Others; issues of witness annonymity reported as: R v Mayers, Glasgow and Others [2008] EWCA Crim 2989; defence of a young man charged with murder arising from a shooting in Club UK night-club in Bristol;
Murder: R v Baggus – defence of a female charged with false imprisonment and murder of a man with learning disabilities and epilepsy, the Forest of Dean;
Murder: R v Powell; defence of man aged 88 years for killing his wife; issues of capacity and diminished responsibility;
Murder: R v V 2006; defence of mother charged with killing her teenage daughter in 2006; defence of insanity;
Murder: R v B – 2008; defence of a young female with ADHD charged with a killing at the St. Paul’s Festival in 2007;
Rape: R v Lewis – 2009: defence of Bristol police officer charged with rape whilst on police duty;
Rape: R v H 2008: defence on charges of escape from psychiatric unit, and rape; originally represented on murder charge, when he was a 12 year old boy with Asperger’s syndrome who killed baby brother; issues of mental capacity and fitness to plead;
Fraud: R v Welsh and Others 2008: prosecution of five defendants in a diving business near Plymouth for fraud on NHS; instructed by Fraud Prosecution Service, London;
Fraud: R v Howley and Others (as leading junior in 2005/6): defence of company accountant in a series of long trials, involving multi-million pound deceptions upon banks, related to the collapse of a business in South Wales.
Conspiracy: R v Whittaker and others – 2009: defence in conspiracy relating to false passports;
Conspiracy: R v Johnson – 2008: defence in conspiracies to burgle; Prosecution appeal from terminating ruling reported as O, J and S, R v [2008] EWCA Crim 463.
Earlier cases:
Pervert justice: R v Richards and Others; (as leading junior) defence of solicitor handling allegedly fraudulent civil litigation;
Manslaughter and Health and Safety offences: R v Mark and NHSL and others; prosecution of individual contractor and company (for corporate manslaughter) arising from fatal explosion in boatyard; instructed by CPS Casework Directorate;
Manslaughter: R v Clothier and Others; prosecution of farmer and company arising from fatal tractor accident; instructed by CPS Casework Directorate;
Fraud: R v Bell and Others; defence of company MD, in long trial of alleged shipping fraud prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office.
Recommendations:
“A top choice for heavyweight criminal matters.”
“He combines many years’ experience as a solicitor with his experience as an advocate, making him a user-friendly silk.”
Chambers and Partners 2010
“heavyweight leader in serious fraud and criminal trials”
Legal 500 2009
“Top choice. Favoured practitioner”;
“Very polished, hardworking and presents arguments well”;
“A reputation for being particularly good with disabled defendants and witnesses”
Chambers and Partners
“He is a ‘bona fide team player’, who is noted for his strength in murder cases and the rounded approach he brings to cases”;
“Enjoys the approval of solicitors and barristers alike”;
“A conscientious and tenacious advocate with fine client skills”;
“Exceptionally good with mental health cases”
Legal 500
Albion Chambers, Broad Street, Bristol BS1 1DR
T: 0117 927 2144
F: 0117 926 2569
michael.fittonqc@albionchambers.co.uk
Clerk: Bonnie Colbeck
T 0117 311 0301
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