Icah Peart QC

Areas of Practice

Icah 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. He has also undertaken both general civil and family work in the past, has experience of both inquests and courts martial, and sits regularly as a Recorder in the Crown Court at a variety of London locations.

Icah's criminal practice has been for many years of the 'heavyweight' variety. 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.

Notable Cases

Icah defended in cases arising 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.

Icah has successfully defended in a number of high-profile murder cases, which have included the cases of R v Mahrad, Northampton Crown Court, October-November 2002, (the 'Ross Parker' murder case) and R v Edwards, Old Bailey, September 2002 (in which the defendant, aged 12, was the youngest defendant to stand trial at the Old Bailey for 100 years).

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 Held

Icah is vice-chairman of the Bar's Race Relations Committee. He is an elected member of the Middle Temple Hall Committee and a co-opted member of the Middle Temple Executive Commitee.

Societies

Criminal Bar Association, South Eastern Circuit, LSE Lawyers' Alumni Group and Amnesty International.

Other activities

Icah's interests include his three children and Reading FC, whom he has supported since childhood.

Year of Call

Queen's Counsel

Education

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Practice Areas