Alphege Bell secures unanimous aquittal in a homicide case where a man was killed, transported and then set on fire to burn in the open air.

The defendant was alleged to be part of 5 defendants who were originally charged and prosecuted at the Old Bailey in respect of Murder. The Crown’s case was that of a man who was murdered in a flat as a result of a dispute regarding more than £40,000 worth of drugs.

The corpse was stripped and then transported over the course of 48 hours through South London and onto a deposition location of grassland and set alight. The body was discovered burning by police who then launched a large scale and extensive investigation.

The case involved considerable challenges in respect of forensic evidence; complex post-mortem evidence as to the precise cause of death and timing; CCTV; ANPR, complex cell site and extensive telematics.

After careful interrogation of the evidence by the defence, the Crown did not proceed with the murder allegation against the defendant and took the allegation of perverting the course of justice to full trial.

The defendant was unanimously acquitted.

The Crown and other defendants were represented by Queens Counsel and Junior.

Alphege represented his client without the assistance of other counsel.

Alphege was instructed by Joan Mitchell of Clifton Solicitors.