Criminal Defence
Overview
Lucie has a loyal following of professional clients who value her meticulous trial preparation, rapport with lay clients and dexterity in legal argument. She is highly rated as a jury advocate, both for her witness handling and for her compelling and fearless closing speeches. She is instructed in private client and legally aided cases. Examples of some of Lucie’s recent instructions are listed below.
Notable Cases
HOMICIDE
R v H 2021 (Exeter Crown Court) murder
R v K 2021 (Croydon Crown Court) murder
R v MS & others 2021 (Croydon Crown Court) murder
R v RG & others 2020 (Chelmsford Crown Court) murder. No evidence offered on murder further to extensive legal argument pre- trial including a successful application to dismiss, reinstatement of the indictment by way of a voluntary bill and exchange of expert evidence on issue of causation. Trial proceeded as an aggravated burglary.
R v Sally Challen (Central Criminal Court) – plea to manslaughter accepted after successful appeal of murder conviction. Led by Clare Wade QC.
R v B (a youth) & another 2019 (Central Criminal Court) – murder
R v JT 2018 (Central Criminal Court) -murder and re-trial after found unfit in first trial
R v X (a youth) 2016 (Nottingham Crown Court)– double murder. Plea to manslaughter accepted.
TERRORISM
R v Driouche 2020 (Central Criminal Court). Possessing 10kg of ammonium nitrate (s.4 (1) Explosive Substances Act 1883) and 7 counts pertaining to terrorist documents (s.58 TA 2000). Complex legal argument as part of a preparatory hearing in relation to availability of defence of ‘lawful object’/ reliance on psychiatric evidence.
DRUGS
R v A & others 2021 (Manchester Crown Court) Operation Embossed. Leading Tom Copeland.
R v F & others 2021 (Southwark Crown Court) surveillance/ covert listening device.
R v AB 2020 (Harrow Crown Court) drug supply (kilos).
R v IL & others 2019 (Harrow Crown Court) – drugs / firearms.
R v LW & others 2019 (Oxford Crown Court) county lines.
R v L 2018 Large-scale class A supply linked to firearms distribution.
R v K 2018- County lines supply chain (class A).
R v M 2017 (Snaresbrook Crown Court) - Supply cat A further to police raid of defendant of good character living an ostensibly unassuming life.
R v S & another 2017 (Lewes Crown Court) - Supply Cat A (kilos).
R v S & others 2017 (Brighton Crown Court) - Drug supply into prison.
R v D 2017 - Large quantity of cocaine for onward supply.
FIREARMS
R v L 2021 (Snaresbrook CC) possession of a firearm/ ammunition with intent to endanger life.
R v A & others 2021 (Wood Green Crown Court). Possession of a firearm/ ammunition with intent to endanger life.
R v FC 2019 (Isleworth Crown Court). Possession of firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, drugs context.
R v M (a youth) 2019 (Wood Green Crown Court). Armed robbery, gang context, successful halftime submission. Leading Susan Wright.
R v D 2017 Possession of firearm/ ammunition with intent to endanger life.
R v C 2016 Possession of Firearm with intent to endanger life.
R v M & another 2015 (Harrow Crown Court). Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life. Sawn-off shotgun. Loaded. Drugs context, Co-D / Cut Throat. Acquitted.
SERIOUS VIOLENCE
R v W 2021 (Croydon Crown Court) s.18. Stabbing, life-threatening injuries.
R v MM 2021 (Harrow Crown Court) s.18 – stabbing.
R v DF 2021 (Aylesbury CC) Kidnap. Acquitted.
R v JO & others 2020 (Isleworth Crown Court) 12 counts of armed robbery and a related weapons charge (leading Susan Wright). 3 successful halftime submissions and 6 acquittals.
R v AA 2020 (Harrow Crown Court) s.18 (plea to ABH accepted further to extensive representations).
R v I 2018 (Woolwich Crown Court) s.18 against prison officers by convicted prisoner.
R v AS 2019 (Harrow Crown Court) aggravated burglary.
R v JS & Others 2019 (St Albans Crown Court). Robbery with an offensive weapon.
R v K & Others 2017 (Oxford Crown Court) Kidnap. First on indictment.
R v R 2017 (Inner London Crown Court) s.18 and robbery with co- d resulting in life-changing injuries.
R v D 2016/17 (Blackfriars Crown Court) Violent Disorder - Political protest. 'The East Street Defendants'. Successful application to dismiss for one defendant. Hung jury for a second defendant, followed by re-trial. Aborted part way through second trial further to defence medical evidence. Crown did not pursue a further trial. See artists' drawings from the trials here.
R v F 2016 (Wood Green Crown Court) Violent Disorder (use of weapons).
R v G 2016 (Snaresbrook Crown Court)- s.18. Female defendant. Stabbed partner through chest. Life endangered. Self-defence. Acquitted.
R v P 2016 - Armed Robbery.
R v SG 2015 (St Albans Crown Court) - Aggravated Burglary - Acquitted (watch mistaken for a knife during violent confrontation in which complainant was dragged from her home).
ARSON
R v JD & another 2020 (Luton Crown Court) Arson with intent. Firebombing of a vehicle with persons inside. Acquitted.
R v M & others 2017 (St Albans Crown Court)- Two arsons with co-d's (one recklessly endangering life) of compounds storing a large number of vehicles seized by police in a car ringing case, and counts pertaining to the ringing. Acquitted of all charges.
R v H 2017 (Blackfriars Crown Court) - Serial arsonist committed further arsons whilst detained under mental health act. Complex psychiatric evidence re life sentence.
R v M 2016 (St Albans Crown Court) - Arson (£500,000k). Expert evidence. Successful submission of no case to answer.
DISHONESTY
R v SA & others 2020 (Central Criminal Court) perverting the course of justice (in relation to allegation of attempted murder of a police officer). Acquitted.
R v A 2018 -Professional person of good character accused of shoplifting (acquitted).
R v Reeves & Others 2017 (Sheffield Crown Court) Led junior. A pilot acquitted of misconduct in public office, further to an allegation of misuse of the helicopter's camera to film naked members of the public, widely reported in the national media: see BBC coverage.
R v G 2017 (Isleworth Crown Court) - Sophisticated pick-pocketing ring.
R v Norman 2016/17 (Central Criminal Court). Led junior. Robert Norman, a prison officer who was a source for the journalist Stephen Moyes, was convicted of providing information to newspapers in return for payment. Widely reported in the national press.
Lucie and Keir Monteith QC, both instructed in the original crown court proceedings, are instructed in the ongoing appeal before the European Court of Human Rights, led by Henry Blaxland QC.
R v S & Others 2016 (Blackfriars Crown Court) - Multi-handed conspiracy to steal. Acquitted. Fraudulently obtained parcels intercepted using insider information about Royal Mail IT systems. Cut throat. Successfully applied to adduce evidence of co-d's 'confession', secretly recorded by defendant.
R v A 2015 (Inner London Crown Court) Blackmail. Acquitted. Family feud. Defendant's belief in aliens formed part of the defence.
R v TP 2014 (Wood Green Crown Court) - 'Operation Gemini' (118 persons charged). Possession of ID Documents with Improper Intent. Abuse of Process (Entrapment) - TP traded passports in a shop staffed by Undercover Police Officers. Backroom 'goodies' featured. TP invited to supply a firearm. Detailed and legally complex disclosure arguments relating to RIPA 2000 authorisations and PII argument. Cross-examination of senior authorising operational officers (including Police Commander) and of undercover officers. (See linked appeal case of R v Palmer, Gyamfi & Cooke [2014] EWCA Crim 1681).
DANGEROUS DRIVING
R v JE 2021 (Woolwich Crown Court) Death by dangerous driving and causing serious injuries by dangerous driving. Crown’s application to adduce evidence of speed in excess of 100mph under slip rule successfully opposed.
R v RS 2020 Wood Green Crown Court. Dangerous driving. Life-changing injuries to a cyclist. Suspended sentence.
SEXUAL OFFENCES
R v D & Others 2021 (Harrow Crown Court). Controlling prostitution/ trafficking.
R v S 2021 (Snaresbrook Crown Court). Controlling prostitution.
R v B 2020 (Harrow Crown Court). Stranger rape of a schoolchild. Defendant intermediary.
R v C 2018 (Kingston Crown Court). Historical rape.
R v H & others 2018 (Manchester Crown Court) - High-value Brothel Keeping and money laundering (Operation Bean). Complex legal argument on abuse of process concerning ‘light touch’ policing over a period of many years. First and second on indictment. Widely reported.
R v MKN 2018 (Wood Green Crown Court) (2018) Historical child abuse (acquitted).
R v CM 2018 (St Albans Crown Court) - Historical child abuse (rape/ sexual assault).
R v X 2018 (Blackfriars Crown Court). Rape of sex workers by a child. Weapon. Hospital Order.
R v FA 2018 (Isleworth Crown Court). Stranger rape/ robbery. Male on male.
R v CO 2018 (Hull Crown Court). Rape. Multiple child complainants (mixed verdicts).
R v H 2017 (Manchester Crown Court) Brothel Keeping. Novel legal argument raised challenging unlawfulness of women sharing premises to work as self-employed sex workers for reasons of safety. Argument not ruled on because crown offered no evidence close to trial.
R v JY 2016 (Manchester Crown Court) Brothel keeping case which collapsed at trial: see Guardian report. Novel human rights arguments raised challenging the unlawfulness of self-employed sex workers sharing premises for safety. Not ruled on because the crown offered no evidence.
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Financial Crime and Confiscation
Overview
Lucie is regularly instructed in high-value fraud cases and is experienced in related confiscation proceedings. Fraud cases are often complex and protracted. Lucie ensures availability for conferences and that regular written advice is provided throughout the proceedings.
Notable Cases
R v S & others 2019 (Kingston Crown Court) Operation Slipstream. Fraud. 15 handed (half time submission succeeded).
R v YA & Others 2018 (Southwark Crown Court) Operation Wrestler. Fraud. 5 handed.
R v F 2018 (Harrow Crown Court) DVLA surveillance operation. Fraud. 5 handed.
R v SD 2017 Multi defendant fraud predicated on computer misuse.
R v AT & Others 2017 (Inner London Crown Court) Sophisticated multi-defendant bank fraud.
R v I 2016 (Snaresbrook Crown Court). Fraud. 'Operation Rhino'. 38 prosecutions, 2 acquittals, of which this was one.
R v T 2016 (Brighton Crown Court) Money laundering further to confidence fraud.
R v S 2017 (Kingston Crown Court) Drugs confiscation. £8 million.
R v V 2017 (St Albans Crown Court) Drugs confiscation for well known MMA sportsman.
R v I 2017 (Kingston Crown Court) Confiscation (sole junior). Benefit of £27.5 million alleged (drugs).
R v K 2016 (Kingston Crown Court) VHCC confiscation (led junior). Alleged benefit of £12.5 million relating to £27 million fraud. Further to conviction on an MTIC VAT fraud (contra trading).
R v Q 2016 (Kingston Crown Court) Confiscation (led junior). £14.5 million benefit (drugs).
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Criminal Appeals
Notable Cases
Reported
R v Challen (junior counsel led by Clare Wade QC).
Sally Challen walked free on Friday 7 June 2019 after prosecutors accepted a lesser plea of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, for killing her abusive husband after decades of psychological abuse. Coverage in BBC, Guardian and ITV News.
R v Norman [2016] EWCA Crim 1564. Appeal Conviction.
Operation Elveden case. Misconduct in Public Office. Belmarsh prison officer accused of providing information to a journalist. Led by Keir Monteith QC. Appeal proceedings predicated on Article 10 arguments. Widely reported in the National press. Appealed to ECtHR, judgement pending.
R v Graham Bathgate [2016] EWCA Crim 930 - Appeal Sentence - Allowed.
R v Jackson-Mason [2015] 1 Cr. App. R. 6 - Admissibility of expert psychological evidence regarding suggestibility.
R v Palmer, Gyamfi & Cooke [2014] EWCA Crim 1681 (led by Sally O’Neill QC in appeal, junior alone in crown court) Shop staffed by undercover police officers (‘UCO’). Abuse (entrapment). Disclosure of RIPA 2000 authorisations. UCO gave evidence for the appellant after writing a book in which he criticised the operation (Christian Plowman, Crossing the Line, Mainstream Publishing, 2013). See coverage in the Guardian.
R v OD & HA [2011] EWCA Crim 1395 Youth affray sentencing. Appeal allowed.
Unreported
R v C (2019) Appeal of conviction (out of time).
R v C (2017) Sentenced reduced on appeal.
R v L (2017) Sentence reduced on appeal.
R v N (2016) Controlling Prostitution. Mother with a history of vulnerabilities and joint custody of a child resident abroad. Sentence varied from immediate to suspended imprisonment further to an expedited appeal.
R v KA (2016) CCRC Referral. Assigned by Registrar.
