Murder and Manslaughter
Mark has appeared in many cases of alleged homicide, as a led junior, junior acting alone, and as a leading junior. The following cases are representative of his practice rather than comprehensive:
R v A and others: Conspiracy to murder. Successfully defended one of 3 defendants alleged to have travelled to an address in order to shoot members of a rival OCG, killing one and wounding a second. Case involved detailed analysis of complex timelines and CCTV evidence.
R v C and others: Conspiracy to murder. Successfully defended client alleged to have arranged the killing of a person said to have owed money to his OCG. Remaining members of the group convicted.
R v D and others: Successfully prosecuted to conviction a defendant alleged to have murdered a rival who was taken from his home address and shot twice. Case involved complex ballistics expert evidence.
R v B: Client admitted murder of man lured to canal path and stabbed to death. Successfully defended on remaining charges of robbery.
R v P, O, B & W: Defendants successfully prosecuted to conviction of manslaughter and robbery after victim attacked by group of defendants in order to steal his watch.
R v W & N: Prosecuted 2 juveniles accused of stabbing 14 year old boy to death. Complex presentation of inter-connected CCTV and social media messaging. Convictions for murder and manslaughter resulted.
R v B: Murder. Represented client already convicted of 4 counts of murder arising from the petrol bombing of a house
Sexual Offences
Mark has appeared in many cases of rape and serious sexual abuse. Of the 15 cases cited by The Times in their investigation into the grooming and abuse of vulnerable children, Mark prosecuted or defended in 7 of them. The following cases are provided as representative examples of his practice:
R v W: Represented a teacher alleged to have entered into a sexual relationship with a pupil. Case attracted intense national media attention. Through deployment of expert evidence and detailed forensic analysis of social media data, demonstrated that sexualised messages alleged to have been sent by the client were likely to have been manipulated. Client acquitted.
R v M: Client charged with historic sexual offences committed against players in academy at Crewe Alexandra FC when acting as a coach. Client acquitted.
R v S: Professional client charged with sexually assaulting 5 year old. Complex DNA evidence successfully challenged. Client acquitted.
R v C: Successfully defended pilot alleged to have engaged in serial rape and sexual assault of partner.
R v M: Successfully defended client said to have held wife prisoner and raped her following an arranged marriage
Motoring Offences
Mark receives regular instructions to represent clients charged with causing Death by Dangerous Driving and by Careless Driving. He is preferred counsel for DWF Solicitors and appears throughout the country on behalf of private clients and in insurance funded cases.
Regulatory
Mark is on the approved list for the presentation of cases on behalf of the General Medical Council. He has also appeared for defendants and companies in connection with breaches of regulations relating to Trading Standards, Housing, Fire Safety and the provision of Financial Services.
