|
Peter Rowlands has joined Garden Court Chambers from 18 Red Lion Court , as of 29th April 2009. PracticePeter Rowlands has an established reputation as a leader in criminal defence work. He has a wide-ranging practice from homicide and serious sexual offences to major drug importations and money-laundering, including contested confiscation proceedings. He has been mentioned in the Legal 500 as having developed a particular expertise in murder and armed kidnapping cases. He also has a high standing in cases involving multiple rape and young complainants.
He has extensive experience of dealing with VHCC cases, having been involved in the scheme as leading counsel since its inception in 2000. He is adept at ensuring that the proper requirements of the defence are met in complicated and lengthy cases. Peter also has an increasing amount of appellate work relating to both conviction and sentence, which is frequently on referral, following proceedings in the Crown Court.
He was educated at Keble College, Oxford and qualified as a solicitor (1984) before his call to the Bar in 1990. He is a member of the Middle Temple, the Criminal Bar Association, the Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association and Justice. He is a proficient French speaker.
Notable CasesR v Boateng (2010) Leading counsel in a multi-handed conspiracy to rob cash in transit vans with the use of firearms. R v Subryan (2010) Leading counsel in a 10 week multi-handed conspiracy to import 87 kilos of heroin where the defendant was also indicted on separate counts of running a cocaine pressing factory R v Rooprai (2009) An allegation of a multi-handed fire-bombing campaign in Bristol and Swindon, aimed at punishing an inter-faith marriage. The defendant who was the alleged ringleader had an unusual psychological deficit which led to a lengthy voire dire and expert evidence concerning the admissibility of extensive interviews without an appropriate adult.
R v Hussain (2009) An allegation of persistent fraud by a barrister on his clients leading to a 33 count indictment. R v D (2008/9)
A nine-handed gang kidnapping and prolonged rape involving a 14 year old defendant who was said to have led a
group of youths on a revenge attack upon a former girlfriend of a similar age.
R v Lanu (2008)
Leading counsel in multiple knife-point rape of prostitutes; the trial involved argument concerning the admissibility of unproven rape as bad character evidence and of previous 'false' complaints. R v D (2008)
An allegation of anal rape of 4-year-old girl by 12-year-old defendant, involving complicated expert medical evidence and calling for highly sensitive cross-examination.
R v Najafpour (2007/8)
Leading counsel in a £20 million hawalha banking money-laundering conspiracy (VHCC). The case raised an interesting point in confiscation proceedings concerning the availability of unpaid criminal funds as an asset in the hands of the defendant. The Court of Appeal are due to decide the issue later in 2009.
R v Gray (2008)
Leading counsel in organised football hooliganism conspiracy
R v Dhillon (2007)
Leading counsel in 5-handed cut-throat murder involving multiple issues of bad character
R v Bridgwater (2007)
Defended a 78-year-old defendant tried on multiple counts of historic rape
R v Michaelides (2007)
£5 million fraud involving an alleged plot between the defendant and a solicitor to defraud creditors following bankruptcy
R v Windust (2007)
Death by dangerous driving involving expert evidence on the maintenance and condition of farm vehicles
R v Fields (2006)
Leading counsel for the organiser of a kidnap gang involved in the armed snatch of 10-year-old boy for ransom where co-defendants gave evidence for the Crown: see R v Fields [2007] EWCA 3348.
R v Okoh and others (2006)
An 11-handed nationwide car-ringing conspiracy (VHCC)
R v Bromley (2006)
Leading counsel in a large-scale, multi-handed drugs and firearms conspiracy (VHCC)
R v Sura (2005)
Leading counsel in a multi-handed conspiracy to kidnap and torture
R v Powell (2005)
Defending a school-teacher accused of an historic lesbian affair with a 12-year-old pupil
R v Gordon (2005)
The Millenium Dome lighting fraud (VHCC)
R v Ashman (2005)
Assassination shooting of a rival gang member (see Appellate: R v Jones and others)
Appellate Cases
R v Najafpour (2009) EWCA Crim 2723; (2010) 2 Cr. App. R. (S) 38 A debt owed to an offender which is irrecoverable is an asset of no value for the purposes of calculating the available amount under s.9 POCA 2002.
R v Spry (2008) 26th September CCA Case No 0802133 A1
Need for proportionality in sentence for child cruelty in cases where there has been prolonged psychological damage to a number of victims but a relatively low level of physical injury.
R v Bridgewater [2008] EWCA Crim 1845
Application of Sentencing Council Guidelines in rape cases to 77-year-old appellant where there has also been the mitigating factor of delay.
R v Ilomuanya [2005] EWCA Crim 58, [2006] Crim L.R. 422
Admissibility of alleged drugs paraphernalia in cases of supply or importation where merely an invitation to speculate.
R v Jones and others [2005] EWCA Crim 3115; [2006] 2 Cr App R (S) 1
Determination of the minimum term following conviction for murder; consideration of aggravating and mitigating features: minimum term of 25 years in a 'cold-blooded execution' with other aggravating features.
Attorney General's References (Nos.99-102 of 2004) [2005] EWCA Crim 294; [2005] 2 Cr App R (S) 82
Distributors of drugs within UK should generally speaking receive slightly shorter sentences than those responsible for importation; comments on tariff generally.
R v Lawrence and others [2002] Crim L.R. 584
Admissibility of covert surveillance evidence and disclosure of related material; no breach of Articles 8 ECHR where surveillance necessary for prevention of crime nor Article 6 on ex parte applications where material did not assist the defence.
R. v Turpin (Nicholas Victor) [2001] EWCA Crim 1600; [2002] 1 Cr App R (S) 77
Threshold for custody in cases of possession of indecent images of children
R v Bolingbroke [2001] 1 Cr App R (S) 277; Times 16 August 2000
Appropriate term for possession and distribution of child pornography.
Societies
Peter is a member of the Criminal Bar Association, Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association and Justice.
(Last Updated: August 2010)
|
