18 St John Street’s Emily Wilson acted on behalf of the defendant in her first Crown Court trial concerning allegations of strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Unanimous not guilty verdicts were returned following the four-day trial at Preston Crown Court.
The jury deliberated on the matters for just over 2 hours.
The prosecution alleged that, during the course of the defendant’s relationship with the complainant, the defendant punched the complainant to her face, causing injury to her eye before strangling her.
The case required legal arguments to be determined in advance of the trial, including submissions regarding the admissibility of the defendant’s previous convictions for similar allegations.
Ms Wilson also conducted cross-examination of a vulnerable complainant, employing the specialist advocacy skills required to challenge their account effectively. The complainant was cross-examined on the numerous inconsistencies in the different accounts the complainant had given throughout the course of the proceedings; contrasting the evidence given at trial and the account given to the police initially.
Emily was instructed by George Egan of Forbes Solicitors.
For more information on Emily Wilson and other members of the Criminal Department, please contact a member of the criminal clerking team on 0161 278 8262 or email crime@18sjs.com.