Mountford Chambers delivers a nationwide and international service to clients, who are assured quality advice, advocacy and representation at all levels.
Mountford Chambers delivers a nationwide and international service to clients, who are assured quality advice, advocacy and representation at all levels.
Murder & Manslaughter
Chris has substantial experience defending in complex murder trials, particularly those involving young or vulnerable defendants, multiple defendant trials involving ‘cut-throat’ issues, or cases involving disputed expert evidence eg cell site, blood spatter, mental health issues, firearms discharge or where the cause of death is in dispute.
Serious Crime and Sexual Offences
Chris has also defended in many serious cases, for example successfully defending a Prep School headmaster charged with historic child cruelty, acting for a young woman charged with making serial false allegations of rape, and regularly represents professionals (recently a dentist, solicitor, journalist, and property developer) charged with various offences including harassment, fraud, and coercive control.
Terrorism
Chris has appeared in many terrorism trials involving allegations of both domestic and international terrorism, for example terrorist activity linked to the conflict in Syria and Afghanistan.
R v Mohamed Rahman [October 2023] Kingston Crown Court
MR charged with attempting to murder, and wounding with intent, several police officers in Leicester Square on 16th September 2022, three days before the Queen’s funeral. MR had a history of mental health problems and drug abuse.
R v Nick Kaneza [September 2023] Central Criminal Court
NK not guilty of murder and violent disorder. Defence of self-defence. Fight in a North London park, NK stabbed the deceased after he was attacked with a broken bottle. The deceased had been robbed of his neck chains.
R v Alex Pasley [July 2023] Central Criminal Court
AP the first of four defendants charged with murder and attempted murder, of rival drug dealers, by forcing their way into a flat on an estate in south London.
R v Mohammed Afzal [2023] Liverpool Crown Court
Terrorism. Teenager distributing Islamic State videos
R v Jamie Barrow [June 2023] Nottingham Crown Court
JB charged with murder x 3. Mother and her two very young children, aged 1 and 3, died in a house fire in the early hours of the morning. JB poured petrol through the letterbox and set it alight. JB admitted starting the fire but denied murder.
R v Jirmal Powis-Brown [May 2023] Central Criminal Court
J P-B not guilty of murder and all other alleged offences. J P-B was one of 8 defendants charged with murder. Fight at a petrol station in Ham, southwest London, led to a car chase and a fatal knife attack in a residential street.
R v Fadel Dabbous and others [April 2023] Central Criminal Court
FD one of four defendants alleged to have lured a former friend to a mews in Paddington, west London, and stabbed him to death.
R v Mickel Carty [2023] Woolwich Crown Court
MC not guilty of murder. Partygoers in Brixton were attacked by rival gang members armed with a gun and machetes. The attackers’ car crashed, and the driver was chased by a group, including MC, through the streets across Brixton Road, and stabbed 32 times. MC was a drill artist. Drill lyrics and a YouTube video of MC allegedly ‘celebrating’ the victim’s death was excluded following argument. Two co-defendants convicted.
R v Kuta-Dankwa [2022] Central Criminal Court
Murder. Victim stabbed in the street in Colindale with his own knife, by group of teenagers who he had threatened for selling drugs in his area.
R v Tyreese Scott [2022] Maidstone Crown Court
Not guilty of manslaughter. 3 teenagers chased a man who fell into a disused quarry and died of head injuries.
R v Kane Stonehouse [2022] Birmingham Crown Court
Murder. Revenge stabbing of a drug dealer, who had attacked defendant’s brother. Mental Health issues. Expert psychiatrists gave evidence for both prosecution and defence.
R v Myles Brown and 3 others [2022] Croydon Crown Court
Not guilty of conspiracy to murder x 2. Shooting. Drill rappers alleged to have attempted to ambush rival drill artist at a recording studio in South London. Gunshot wounds sustained by two others in the studio. Police car chase along the South Circular before the car was abandoned.
R v Stanley Elliott [2022] Winchester Crown Court
Double murder of husband and wife by Elliott, a friend who had been babysitting their 3 year old son
R v Stony Stoica [2022] Inner London Crown Court
Defendant murdered his partner then handed himself in to police. Mental Health issues.
R v Murphy and 2 others [2021] Birmingham Crown Court
Not guilty of conspiracy to murder (co-defendant convicted). 15 year old boy shot leaving a Traveller site in Birmingham.
R v Sprules and 4 others [2021] Central Criminal Court
Murder: revenge attack on rival gang, assisted by the mother of one of the defendants.
R v Azad & 7 others [2021] Reading Crown Court
Group attack with samurai sword, following car chase through streets of Watford.
R v Medina & 3 others [2021] Central Criminal Court
Alleged gang attack on random young man following ‘rideout’ into rival gang’s area in North West London. M only defendant not convicted of murder.
R v Abdi and another [2021] Isleworth Crown Court
Stabbing at a party.
R v Foy & others [2021] Liverpool Crown Court
Shooting by two brothers.
R v Mohammed, Murphy & Bailey [2021] Birmingham Crown Court
Conspiracy to murder 15 year old.
R v Chapman and Wright [2020] Peterborough Crown Court
Wife and lodger killing husband.
R v Carrington and others [2020] Preston Crown Court
Stabbings in Blackpool by group from North West London. Acquitted of murder.
R v KN & Another [2019] Derby Crown Court
Murder, cut-throat defences, KN acquitted of murder, co-defendant convicted of murder.
R v Assri [2020] Isleworth Crown Court
Murder by bogus nephew, who moved in with the deceased.
R v Popoola & others [2019] Central Criminal Court
Multiple stabbings on the same night by gang in Kentish Town. Defendant aged 18.
R v Richard Lee ['2019] Newcastle Crown Court
Stabbing of a friend following drunken argument.
R v Barry Rogers and Penny John [2018] Swansea Crown Court
Son and mother accused of suffocating grandmother, who they believed was suffering from incurable cancer. Covert recordings. Extensive medical evidence.
R v RB [2018] Blackfriars Crown Court
Man died in a fire at a cannabis factory in a tower block in South London, RB acquitted of manslaughter and reckless arson.
R v EH [2017] Central Criminal Court
A paranoid schizophrenic, acquitted of murder and manslaughter relying on self-defence. EH stabbed burglar 58 times. Extensive cross-examination of pathologist and blood spatter expert.
R v DG and another [2017] Leicester Crown Court
Revenge murder following previous gang attack.
R v Jordan Matthews [2017] Cardiff Crown Court
Murder of girlfriend. Expert evidence on cause of death
R v Jemma Beale, [2017] Southwark Crown Court
JB, a vulnerable young woman, prosecuted for making serial false complaints of rape and serious sexual assault.
R v SP and others [2015] Ipswich Crown Court
SP, a Prep School Head Master charged with historic child cruelty against multiple children whilst working at a state boarding school, earlier in his career, for boys excluded from mainstream schools. SP acquitted of all charges.
R v Rabar Mala [2018] Manchester Crown Court
‘SIM Card Terrorist’. Assisting IS fighters from the UK, sending and activating hundreds of SIM cards to facilitate communications. S16 Terrorism Act 2006.
R v Stephen Gray [2016] Woolwich Crown Court
SG, a former British soldier who had fought in Iraq, converted to Islam and travelled to Syria to fight with rebel groups against the Assad regime.
R v Aftab Suleman [2015] Central Criminal Court
AS was charged with dissemination of terrorist publications and posting to Facebook making reference to the Peshawar school shootings, and membership of a proscribed organisation.
R v Jamshed Javeed [2014] Woolwich Crown Court
JJ, a chemistry teacher in a Bolton secondary school, pleaded guilty to two section 5 Terrorism Act 2006 offences, involving travel to Syria to join his brother to fight against Assad. Extensive news coverage and very detailed basis of plea drafted.
R v Munir Farooqi [2013] Manchester Crown Court
The first attempt by the CPS to obtain forfeiture of a family home under terrorism legislation. In front of Mr Justice Henriques, successfully opposed the application arguing the application breached the human rights of other family members who would be devastated by the consequences but had committed no offences.
R v Sharif Ali [2013] Southwark Crown Court
SA was one of nine defendants arrested under the Terrorism Act as part of a joint US/UK surveillance operation. US Homeland Security investigators believed that SA was a member of a cell raising funds for Al Shabbab, in Kenya, by smuggling Khat to US. No evidence linking SA to terrorism. Six-week trial.
R v OB, Liverpool Crown Court
A high profile Muslim dentist, from a prominent family, charged with conspiracy to defraud. The North-West Counter Terrorism Unit conducted this extensive investigation into alleged financial crime. Charges were stayed as an abuse of process following lengthy legal argument.
R v HF [2011] Manchester Crown Court
Year long covert surveillance operation, undercover officers alleged to have infiltrated a terrorist cell. Following a 3-month trial HF was the only one of four defendants acquitted.
Chris Henley KC has appeared in multiple complex and serious fraud trials prosecuted by a variety of agencies including the SFO, HMRC and DBIS, representing company directors, HNW individuals, financial advisers and other professionals
R v JK and 9 others, Southwark CC, 2019
MTIC fraud, representing the director of a cash and carry business alleged to be involved in sham trading of alcoholic drinks, and smuggling. Loss of £60m to HMRC.
R v GD and 4 others, CCC, 2018
large scale importation of unlicensed anabolic steroids worth £65 million from India and Eastern Europe, using GD’s clothing company as cover.
R v SW & 6 others, Liverpool CC 2018
4 month SFO prosecution. SW was the managing director of a company alleged to be involved in mis-selling solar panels, and fraudulent Swiss based insurance products.
R v JK and 3 others, Southwark CC 2017
£45 million VAT fraud, using a pay roll company.
R v JG and 11 others, Southwark CC 2016
£40 million mortgage fraud. Mortgages raised on multiple high value properties in Mayfair and Kensington. JG, professional surveyor and valuer, alleged to have provided dishonestly inflated valuations. JG acquitted of all counts.
R v MA & 10 others, Birmingham CC 2016
Tax fraud, mortgage fraud and money laundering. MA, the principal defendant, was a revered Pir, ‘holy man’, and spiritual leader with thousands of followers, based in a Darbar centre in Stoke. MA, members of his family and inner circle prosecuted for multiple commercial and residential mortgage frauds, tax fraud and money laundering.
R v NW-D & 10 others, Southwark CC 2015
Tax fraud, NW-D was a financial adviser to city traders, investing in ‘tax efficient’ film schemes.
HMRC v JB and 19 others, Birmingham CC 2014
JB acquitted, 17 co-defendants convicted of £multi-million construction industry revenue and VAT fraud, using umbrella companies.
Chris has a broad experience of defending in a wide range of criminal regulatory prosecutions.
Chris has appeared before professional disciplinary tribunals and at inquests.
Successfully represented a police officer accused of using excessive force in the course of an arrest and another accused of homophobic bullying within the workplace. Both were cleared of all alleged wrongdoing.
Successfully represented Laura Ashley in a private prosecution brought by a trade association. Laura Ashley was accused of breaches of the Trade Descriptions Act.
Successfully represented the owner of a pet crematorium in proceedings brought by the Environment Agency. The defendant, RB, was cleared of all alleged breaches of the EPA.
2025
Chambers & Partners
“Chris is an impressive advocate and a great negotiator.”
“There is no question of who to go to when quality of the highest order is needed. Chris Henley is top drawer, generous with his time, helpful and considerate.”
“He is excellent in cross-examination and very tenacious in court.”
Ranked: Band 2
Legal 500
Crime: ‘Chris is everything you could want in a criminal silk. He rolls his sleeves up. He gets stuck in. He is unfazed and calm. Clients adore him. Judges respect him. And he’s a pleasure to work with. His advocacy is unflappable even in the tightest of corners. He is a leader in his field.’
Ranked: Tier 2
2024
Chambers & Partners
“His grasp of detail when handling the case was fantastic.”
“Chris is persuasive, impressive and always able to adapt to changing circumstances in a case.”
“A good performer with a high degree of focus and good attention to detail.”
Ranked: Band 2
Legal 500
Crime: ‘Chris is a fantastic silk. He combines all of the qualities needed to robustly defend someone facing the most serious of charges. He is down-to-earth yet authoritative, experienced yet approachable, and has the correct tone for the client, the judge and the jury.’
Ranked: Tier 3
2023
Chambers & Partners
Crime: “Offers a master class in cross-examination.”
Ranked: Band 2
Legal 500
Crime: ‘Chris has great tactical insight into the key issues of his cases coupled with an ability to make the unreasonable appear entirely reasonable. He is unflappable under pressure and is rightly highly sought-after in a wide range of serious criminal offences.’
Ranked: Tier 3
2022
Chambers & Partners
Crime: “He is very sensitive to his clients’ needs in highly emotionally charged situations that require a lot of patience. He is also very reassuring.”
Ranked: Band 3
Legal 500
Crime: “He fights hard for his client and his witness handling skills are extremely impressive. In court, he is calm, tenacious, skilful and highly persuasive, which makes for a very effective combination.”
Ranked: Tier 3
2021
Chambers & Partners
Crime: “A balanced and fair advocate” who is “meticulous in every aspect of his preparation.”
Ranked: Band 4
Legal 500
Crime: “‘Highly rated by his peers, Christopher’s relaxed manner belies a razor-sharp intelligence.’
Ranked: Tier 3
2020
Chambers & Partners
Crime: “Meticulous is every aspect of his preparation.”
Ranked: Band 4
Legal 500
“Highly rated by his peers, Chris’s relaxed manner belies a razor-sharp intelligence.”
2019
Chambers & Partners
“Able, hardworking and incredibly bright.”
Chris Henley KC and Sebastian Winnett secure a not guilty of murder verdict for 17 year old defendant. The confrontation…
On Friday 20th September, Mountford Chambers hosted the final of the inaugural Criminal Appeals Moot 2024, in collaboration with Freedom Law Clinic and Murray…
Yesterday saw the publication of the much-anticipated review by Head of Mountford Chambers, Chris Henley KC into the Criminal Cases…
