Prosecutors at Gloucester Crown Court have offered no evidence against four men accused of rape after an event at the Royal Agricultural University in 2014. They have now formally been found not guilty after the case against them was dropped. Kieran Vaughan QC of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team represented Patrick Foster.
It was alleged that Thady Duff, James Martin, Leo Mahon and Patrick Foster had attacked a woman in Cirencester. The men, three of whom were students at the Royal Agricultural University, denied the charges against them.
The case has been widely covered in the media, including in The Guardian and the BBC.
The trial was due to start two weeks ago. However, following legal arguments on behalf of the defendant, the prosecution made further disclosure of evidence. This disclosure led to further submissions, which ultimately resulted in the prosecution offering no evidence against all defendants. Defence barristers criticised the police’s handling of the case and will pursue the recovery of defence costs.
Kieran Vaughan QC of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team was instructed by Paul Morris, Partner at BCL Burton Copeland.
