Alphege Bell and Chris Henley KC secure acquittal of youth accused of playground murder and violent disorder tried before the Recorder of London at the Old Bailey

Alphege Bell and Chris Henley KC have secured an acquittal of the first defendant in a complex multi-handed/defendant trial of a very young and vulnerable youth. He was the lead defendant and was accused of murder and violent disorder in a playground. The core allegation was that the client was accused of unlawfully stabbing the deceased in the chest.

This incident was captured on mobile phone footage and the general tumult was witnessed by parents and young people playing in the park. This case posed unique and difficult challenges in the context of murder trials. There were a number of young and vulnerable eyewitnesses which required delicate care and skill to navigate the adverse parts of the Crown’s case and advance the defence position. This was an extremely difficult gradient to climb because the mobile footage, although not capturing the whole incident, showed the fatal incident clearly with sound.

The trial was conducted against a backdrop of extraordinary high emotion. Despite all these considerable challenges, the defendant was acquitted of all charges.

Alphege and Chris were instructed by Ben Darabi of Carson Kaye.