Anna has experience of both prosecuting and defending allegations of manslaughter, rape and sexual crime and has been commended for her ability in cross-examining experts. She is often led in substantial cases concerning allegations of serious violence, drugs conspiracies and gun crime. She therefore has particular expertise in the issues of public interest immunity and disclosure which arise in relation to police informants.
Having prosecuted and defended in substantial white-collar fraud, Anna has the strategic and presentational skills required to make such cases comprehensible for a jury, and is familiar with management of highly voluminous cases.
Anna is recognised for her thorough preparation and rigorous legal analysis, and has a precise and effective style of advocacy.
Cases of Interest:
R v Arthur (2020) – leading junior for the prosecution in successful tax-fraud prosecution. Multiple experts including Forensic Accountant and tax experts used to establish cheat of the revenue in relation to corporation tax and self-assessed income tax regimes. Reduced 20,000 pages of banking and taxation evidence to five master schedules. Defendant convicted.
R v Min (2019) – prosecuted defendant charged with attempted murder of his ex-wife’s new partner. Defendant convicted. Case involved pathologist’s evidence as to degree of force required to inflict penetrating stab wounds.
R v Gailis (2019) – represented Latvian defendant in multi-million-pound drug conspiracy involving smuggling cocaine across the Atlantic in a yacht. Defendant a youth at time of alleged offending. Click here to read.
R v Beauchamp (2019) – instructed for the prosecution, defendant charged with rape and sexual offences against two brothers under 13. One boy refused to speak to police, the other gave an account of being abused himself, being an eye-witness to offences against his brother, and being forced to abuse the defendant’s toddler. He retracted latter allegation prior to trial, and accepted he had lied. Advised prosecution should proceed in relation to offences allegedly committed against the brothers. D convicted.
R v Patterson (2019) – instructed for the defence in a s5 DVCVA case – represented mother charged with causing or allowing GBH to young baby. Case involved multiple fractures, and cross-examination of expert radiologist and paediatrician. Defendant acquitted.
R v Wilson (2019) – successfully defended female teacher charged with having sexual relationship with a pupil in breach of trust. Undisputed evidence that she had told the male she was pregnant. Hung jury, no retrial. Click here to read.
R v Ben Stokes, Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale (2018) – successfully defended Ryan Ali who was jointly charged with Ben Stokes in a charge of affray. Mr Ali was alleged by the prosecution to have armed himself with a weapon during the course of the incident, and his involvement was captured on film. Unanimously acquitted by the jury
R v CN (2016) – led junior representing defendant nurse accused of gross negligence manslaughter. Click here to read.
R v Pearce (2014) – led junior for the Crown in charge of cheating the Revenue; 40,000 pages of evidence, analysis of dozens of clients’ profit and loss accounts in order to establish dishonest completion by the defendant, and understanding of taxation principles. Quantum of over £2m. Dozens of lay witnesses called.
R v Hickman (2014) – represented defendant charged with historic rape of 12-year-old girl. Defendant had previous convictions for offences against his daughters in similar circumstances; namely with wife, a self-proclaimed witch, aiding and abetting him. Complainant recovered memory after counselling. Extensive expert evidence on function of memory, and cross examination of experts. Hung jury, convicted at retrial.
R v Jusuf Abdirizak (2014) – represented 19-year-old Somalian defendant in Operation Brook: investigation of sex trafficking and exploitation in Bristol. Vulnerable complainants with communication difficulties. Legal complexities regarding bad character of complainants and s41.
R v Richards (2013) – represented defendant charged with assault by penetration of his step-granddaughter. Ordered to continue when defence expert on anal dilation and injury unavailable. Successfully cross examined prosecution expert – defendant acquitted.
R v Alway (2012) – represented school teacher charged with sexual assaults and attempted rape of seven pupils over a 10-year period.
R v Britton (2012) – led junior instructed for a mother charged with manslaughter by the administration of methadone to her baby. Case involved careful analysis of expert evidence regarding hair strand sampling, toxicology, and chemical absorption. Client acquitted of manslaughter.
R v Waithe and Others (2009) – junior for the Crown in conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs and possession of firearms with intent to endanger life, and possession of stun grenades. First case in Avon and Somerset of a defendant being signed up to give evidence for the Crown pursuant to SOCPA. Significant experience of the evidential, procedural and policy decisions involved.
Articles:
Loss of control and mental disorders
A Twist in the tale: hearsay post-twist not so simple?
True or false? Expert evidence on false memories is inadmissible
Look – don’t touch
R they hrsy or not?
Much ado about nothing?
Cross admissibility and the bad character provisions of the Criminal Justice Act
The potential pitfalls of bases of plea
Crime Clerks:
Bonnie Colbeck
E: bonnie.colbeck@albionchambers.co.uk
T: 0117 311 0301
Ken Duthie
E: ken.duthie@albionchambers.co.uk
T: 0117 311 0368
Joanna Cload
E: joanna.cload@albionchambers.co.uk
T: 0117 927 1243
