Judy Khan QC has experience of criminal defence work across a wide spectrum of criminal cases. She has been instructed as leading counsel in cases involving allegations of murder, attempted murder, kidnap, fraud, money laundering and large-scale importation/supply of drugs.
She also has extensive experience of cases involving sexual allegations, including historical sexual abuse. Judy finds representing young and vulnerable defendants particularly rewarding.
She spent two years representing a number of families at the Hillsborough Inquests; she led a team of barristers who dealt with the medical and pathology evidence. She has also defended, both as leading and junior counsel, in cases involving allegations of baby-shaking.
Judy won Crime Silk of the Year at the Chambers Bar Awards 2019.
Criminal Defence
Overview
Judy is a criminal silk and her practice crosses a spectrum of serious crime. She is predominantly briefed in murder cases, often involving gang-related killings committed by young defendants. She also specialises in cases involving serious sexual allegations.
Notable Cases
R v M and others (Central Criminal Court)
Defendant acquitted of murder - alleged gang-related shooting.
R v R and others (Central Criminal Court)
Successfully argued that identification evidence should be excluded, which resulted in the Crown offering no evidence against four defendants in a double murder/attempted murder. Alleged gang-related shooting. This case was reported in the Evening Standard.
R v H (Isleworth CC)
Secured acquittal of retired vicar facing historical allegations of child abuse.
R v K (Leeds Crown Court)
Represented one of three convicted murderers accused of attempting to murder war criminal, Radislav Krstic, in Wakefield prison. The case was widely reported in the national press, including by the BBC. Acquitted of attempted murder, convicted of section 18 wounding.
R v G and others (Central Criminal Court)
Represented one of nine youths accused of murder. Boy chased and stabbed by gang in Home Park in Sydenham. Acquitted of murder. Convicted of manslaughter. This case was reported by the BBC.
R v H
Represented a serving army officer accused of rape. Acquitted.
R v O (Central Criminal Court)
Murder and conspiracy to rob. Robbery of Matalan store, in which the manager was allegedly murdered.
R v G (Central Criminal Court)
Murder/manslaughter, section 18. Defended an ambulance-man accused of murdering his three-month-old son. The defendant was acquitted of the serious charges on the indictment - including murder/manslaughter. The case involved highly technical expert medical evidence from leading specialists in a wide variety of fields.
R v H (Central Criminal Court)
Represented one of two 15 year olds accused of murdering a paedophile. Acquitted of murder, convicted of manslaughter.
R v C (Central Criminal Court)
Multi-handed murder trial - defendant allegedly involved in execution style shooting.
R v C and others (Central Criminal Court)
Leading Counsel. Murder and attempted murder. Seven-handed gangland shooting in Streatham High Road. Successfully opposed a witness anonymity application. Defendant acquitted after submissions of no case to answer at close of prosecution case.
R v W and others (Woolwich Crown Court)
Leading Counsel. Operation Eaglewood. Money-laundering operation in which defendants were alleged to have laundered in excess of 100 million pounds worth of criminal proceeds from a large number of criminal gangs and organisations across the south east of England.
R v B (Winchester Crown Court)
Rape. Chef/Student acquitted of raping a criminal solicitor, who was too intoxicated to recall any of the events. Widely reported in national press.
R v K-B (Cambridge Crown Court)
Instructed as junior counsel. Double murder of two children by their mother.
R v H and others (Southwark Crown Court)
Leading Counsel. Operation Sunbird. Fraud and money laundering - represented a company director who laundered in excess of 14 million pounds.
R v A and others (Wood Green Crown Court)
Defendant acquitted of alleged involvement in gang rape, which culminated in the complainant being doused in caustic soda.
R v S (Central Criminal Court)
Murder - baby shaking. Detailed written submissions to the CPS resulted in no evidence being offered.
R v B (Central Criminal Court)
Prosecution accept guilty plea to manslaughter, based on Alcohol Dependency Syndrome/diminished responsibility.
R v T (Court of Appeal)
CCRC referral on fresh evidence. Indecent assault conviction from 1995 overturned.
R v O (Harrow Crown Court)
Leading Counsel - baby shaking - child cruelty.
R v A (Nottingham Crown Court)
Murder trial. Conviction appealed in relation to the proper application of section 101(1)(e) - admission of co-defendant’s bad character.
R v B (Kingston Crown Court)
Conspiracy to manufacture amphetamine sulphate.
R v A and others (Reading Crown Court)
High profile case concerning the murder of Mary Ann Leneghan and attempted murder of another in Prospect Park, Reading.
R v M and others (Bristol Crown Court)
Multi-handed conspiracy to murder involving co-ordinated shootings in Bristol and Croydon.
R v M and another (Central Criminal Court)
Murder allegedly involving members of the So Solid Crew.
R v and others (Central Criminal Court)
Murder at Notting Hill after party. Case involved complex issues of law concerning the admission of hearsay evidence from an anonymous witness.
