Shekyena Marcelle-Brown secures acquittal in s18 wounding with intent trial of 19 year old client acting in self-defence.

The client was accused of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, affray and possession of an offensive weapon. It was alleged that the client attacked the complainant with a meat cleaver during a fight in a busy shopping mall, which resulted in serious injuries to the complainant. The Crown relied on CCTV of the incident and several independent witnesses.

The client’s case was that he had the meat cleaver for a legitimate reason, as he was meeting a relative to cook a meal. The client also raised self-defence in that the complainant attacked him with a knife. There was no evidence of a knife during the incident, however Shekyena successfully adduced the complainant’s bad character for numerous blade convictions.

Following deliberations, the jury returned not guilty verdicts on all counts and the client remains a young man of good character.

Shekyena Marcelle-Brown was instructed by Sarah Rimmer of Martin Murray & Associates.