Areas of PracticeIcah has been in full-time practice since his call to the Bar in 1978. He became a tenant at Garden Court in May 1987, having spent the first years of his career at 9 Stone Buildings and 76b Chancery Lane. Icah has always been first and foremost a criminal defence practitioner, although he has also undertaken both general civil and family work in the past. Additionally, he has experience of both inquests and courts martial, and sits regularly as a Recorder in the Crown Court at a variety of locations in London and the south east. He is authorised to sit in cases involving serious sexual allegations and as a Recorder at the Old Bailey. Icah's criminal practice has been for many years of the 'heavyweight' variety. Even as a junior, Icah led in cases where allegations included murder, attempted murder, rape, armed robbery, large-scale conspiracies to import and supply drugs, fraud and public order offences. Icah has always been particularly keen to defend in cases which have political, civil libertarian, or racial dimensions. As a member of Chambers, Icah is often engaged in cases in London. However, he has travelled to the provinces to conduct defence work throughout his career and since taking silk, he continues to make himself available for work outside the capital. Coming from a working class, mixed race background, Icah has a 'down to earth' and pragmatic approach to his work, and win or lose, will always give 100% commitment to his clients. He is regularly recommended in Chambers UK, where he has been described as a "solicitors' favourite...who manages to achieve the difficult art of being a likeable brief whilst refusing to pull any punches in court". Icah has recently been assigned to the list of counsel for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Notable CasesAs a junior, Icah defended in cases arising from the troubles in Ireland and from the Southall, Brixton, Bristol and Tottenham disturbances in the 1980s, as well as in cases arising from the miners' strikes of the same era. In more recent years, Icah has led for the defence in a number of high-profile cases, often with great success. These high -profile cases have included the cases of : R v Williams - 2012 - Liverpool Crown Court - "Operation Greengage" - Defendant one of three men forming the ruling tier of an international organised crime group involved in the importation into the UK of drugs, guns and ammunition. Acquitted of 2 of the 4 conspiracies alleged against him. R v Maroof - 2011 - Stafford Crown Court - Five-handed conspiracy to murder by shooting. R v CB - 2011 - Snaresbrook Crown Court - Daughter of well known show business celebrities acquitted of "glassing" alleged victim. R v BB - 2011 - Kingston Crown Court - Son of ex-cabinet minister convicted by minimum majority of sexual assault. R v Freeman -2011- Nottingham Crown Court - Possession of firearm - defendant acquitted by the jury in seven minutes R v Powell - 2011 - Old Bailey - Five month, multi-handed trial, involving allegations of double murder, attempted murder, possession of firearms with intent to endanger life, etc. - Hung jury, awaiting re-trial in 2012 (Defendant was the only accused not to be convicted of at least one offence, notwithstanding CCTV footage showing him shooting his alleged victim several times) R v Arachchi - 2011 - Southwark Crown Court - Defendant indicted with fraudulently conspiring to launder the proceeds of crime (said initially to be £69m, later revised down to £39m). Acquitted R v Krasniqi - 2011 - Leeds Crown Court - Lead defendant in a case in which three Muslim prisoners at HMP Wakefield (each serving a life sentence with a minimum tariff) faced allegations of attempting to murder Radislav Krstic, a Serbian war criminal serving 35 years for aiding and abetting genocide. Acquitted of attempted murder and convicted of GBH only, thus avoiding an indicated whole life sentence for the more serious offence and receiving a custodial term which did not extend the tariff R v Jumah - 2010 -Old Bailey - Lead defendant in multi-handed "Matalan Murder" - Defendant pleaded guilty to organising the robbery, but not guilty to murder. Acquitted of murder; convicted of manslaughter only R v Silingis - 2010 -Old Bailey - Lithuanian defendant in multi-handed case acquitted of murder and rape R v Wilson - 2010 - Bristol Crown Court - Defendant acquitted of blackmail R v Whyte - 2009 - Old Bailey - Lead defendant, a successful record producer, only one of seven accused acquitted of the murder of one man and of conspiring to murder another in a case involving the first black "supergrass" R v Zajovic - 2009 - Old Bailey - Gang related multi-handed murder. 17 year old defendant acquitted R v Thompson - 2009 - Old Bailey - 15 year old defendant one of seven in "The Honeytrap Murder" R v Gunter - 2009 - Old Bailey - 15 year old defendant one of only two out of seven accused acquitted of murder R v Bhatessa -2009 - Snaresbrook CC - Defendant charged with rape of one woman and attempted rape of another. Acquitted of all save an offence of sexual penetration R v Costa - 2009 - Old Bailey - "The Oxford Street Stabber" - Defendant acquitted of murder R v Viera - 2008 - Court of Appeal - Five Judge Court of Appeal, presided over by the Lord Chief Justice, decided anonymous hearsay was inadmissible on an interlocutory appeal by the Crown. Defendant acquitted of murder in multi-handed gang related shooting (Reported as R v Mayers) R v Desnoes - 2008 - Old Bailey - 15 year old defendant acquitted of murder in multi-handed "post code" gang killing R v Gray - 2008 - Court of Appeal - 14 year old defendant's murder conviction quashed on causation point R v Amos - 2008 - Winchester Crown Court - Defendant in multi-handed animal rights case R v Davis - 2008 - Croydon Crown Court - Defendant charged with murder but convicted of manslaughter only R v Rodgers - 2007 - Old Bailey - Defendant acquitted of murder of alleged drug dealer R v Jaswal - 2007 - Old Bailey - Defendant in multi-handed murder case convicted of manslaughter only R v Gordon - 2007 - Old Bailey - Lead defendant in complex gang-related murder R v Emeh - 2006 - Old Bailey - Defendant acquitted of murder in multi-handed gang killing R v Mason - 2006 - Bristol Crown Court - Defendant acquitted of murder in 10-handed case involving multiple gang killings R v Alvis - 2005 - Old Bailey - Defendant acquitted of gang-related drug murder R v Toby Edwards - 2005 - Maidstone Crown Court - Defendant (an ex soldier) acquitted of killing an alleged drug dealer R v Morgan - 2005 - Old Bailey - Defendant a member of the So Solid Crew involved in shoot-out resulting in the murder of a love rival R v Roberts - 2005 - Old Bailey - Lead defendant in complex gang killing following the Notting Hill Carnival R v Kerlit - 2004 - Old Bailey - "Murder in the Gherkin" case. Defendant acquitted R v Briscoe - 2004 - Old Bailey - Lead defendant in gang rape case acquitted R v Mills - 2003 - Old Bailey - Lead defendant in complex conspiracy to rob and murder. Acquitted of murder R v Mahrad - 2002 - Northampton Crown Court - The 'Ross Parker' race murder case. Defendant only one of four accused acquitted R v Maddison - 2002 - Nottingham Crown Court - Defendant acquitted of the murder of a DJ R v Jackson - 2002 - Old Bailey - Defendant acquitted of murder by shooting R v Ranique Edwards - 2002 -Old Bailey -Defendant, aged 12, was the youngest defendant to stand trial for murder at the Old Bailey for 100 years He was acquitted. Reported cases include Grant [1996] 1 CAR 73; McKecknie and others [1992] 94 CAR 51; Birmingham and others [1992] CLR 117; Phillipson [1990] 91 CAR 226; Inner London Crown Court ex p Benjamin [1987] 85 CAR 267; and O'Loughlin and McLoughlin [1987]. Positions HeldIcah has previously held the post of vice-chairman of the Bar's Race Relations Committee. He has in the past been an elected member of the Middle Temple Hall Committee and a co-opted member of the Middle Temple Executive Commitee. He is now a Bencher at Middle Temple. In the autumn of 2010, Icah was a member of the five person Bar Human Rights Committee delegation which taught criminal procedure at the Tanzanian Law School, based at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Icah was assigned to the list of counsel for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 2011. SocietiesCriminal Bar Association, South Eastern Circuit, LSE Lawyers' Alumni Group, Amnesty, Reprieve International. Other activitiesIcah's many interests include his three children and Reading FC, whom he has supported since childhood.
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