RECOMMENDATIONS

'Approachable and highly effective' Michael Duck was instructed in the M40 Hells Angels shooting. Legal 500 2009

NOTABLE CASES

1996 - R v Bell et al (Operation Asia/Laura)
Prosecution junior barrister in the prosecution of a local gang which was engaged in robberies of innocent victims culminating in two murders when met with resistance. The case was one of the largest murder enquiries in the West Midlands and signalled the beginning of significant gang “warfare” in the West Midlands area. The case was reported due to the complex custody time limits arguments which arose. The prosecution relied upon pseudonym witnesses and had to consider detailed disclosure matters.

1996 - R v Sara Thornton
Prosecution junior counsel in the prosecution of a female for the murder of her allegedly violent husband. The case established the legal existence of “battered woman’s syndrome” when considering provocation in domestic murder/manslaughter cases. The case attracted international press attention.

2002 - In the appeal of Jeremy Bamber
Junior defence counsel at the appeal of Jeremy Bamber. The appellant had been convicted of the murder of his mother, father, sister and nephews in their own home. The appeal was the largest single appellant appeal to be heard in the UK at the time. The case still attracts significant media interest.

2004 - R v Martin et al (Operation Stansted)
Prosecution junior counsel. The case involved the prosecution of local gang members for the murder of two innocent girls, Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare, at an “after party”. The murders arose as a result of a long running dispute between Birmingham’s two largest gangs. The case involved international publicity. The convictions were achieved by relying on pseudonym witnesses, telephone cell site analysis. The preparation for trial involved the assessing upwards of 250,000 documents for disclosure purposes. The convictions were upheld by the Court of Appeal and the matter awaits a listing in the European Court of Human Rights.

2006 - R v Waqar Ahmed
Defence junior counsel representing one of the men accused of the racially motivated murder of a male during riots in inner city Birmingham. The defendant was initially convicted but the conviction was successfully appealed as a result of significant non-disclosure by the prosecution. The defendant was acquitted at the re-trial.

2008 - R v Stephenson
Prosecution junior counsel in the prosecution of a leading member of the violent “Burger Bar Crew” for the murder and attempted murders of opposition gang members.

2008 - R v Garside et al (Operation Bangkok)
Defence junior counsel representing one of the defendants in the “M40 Biker’s” murder trial. The prosecution alleged that the defendants were all members of a bike gang’s chapter and had conspired to kill an opposing gang’s member. The trial attracted international publicity.

2009 - R v Carty
Leading junior counsel in the prosecution of a leading member of a notorious local gang. The defendant was convicted of the attempted murder of an innocent student during a social event at Loughborough University. The defendant had utilised a firearm.

2009 - R v Biddle
Junior defence counsel representing a female business manager charged with the murder of her “love rival”.

2009 - Operations Clean and Pineneedle
Leading junior counsel in the prosecution of 18 suppliers of class A drugs in the West Midlands area. A number of the defendants were gang members and their drug dealing activities financed the criminal behaviour of the respective gangs. The defendants were convicted and I received a commendation for my efforts from the Chief Superintendent in charge of the enquiry.

2010 - Operations Variation and Sniper
Leading junior counsel in the prosecution of further multi-handed class A drugs conspiracies involving gang related activity.

2008 - R v Rafiq
Prosecution junior counsel in the prosecution of a man described by the trial judge as a “professional hitman”.

2010 - R v Singh
Defence junior counsel for a man accused of being the “right hand man” in a multi-handed people trafficking allegation in a trial lasting 3 months.

2010 - R v Akram
Defence counsel for a legal professional alleged to have been involved in a multi-handed large scale mortgage fraud.

2010 - R v Yasin
Defence counsel for a school teacher accused of inappropriate sexual conduct with a 15 year old student over a period of 2 years.

2010 R v Mahmood : - Leading counsel for one of three defendants charged with conspiracy to murder arising from the shooting of a man in Reading. The case involved complex telecommunications and cell site evidence.

2010 R v Rashid : - Leading counsel for a defendant charged with the murder of a female associate whose body was discovered bound in a canal. Contentious legal arguments in respect of causation.

2011 R v Sutherland et al : - Leading counsel for a defendant charged with perverting the course of justice and obstructing the coroner arising from a murder and the subsequent disposal of the body.

2011 R v Kennedy et al : - Leading prosecution counsel in the case of 9 defendants charged with the robbery and kidnap of a foreign lorry driver who died from a heart attack during the commission of the offence.

2011 R v Masefield : - Leading counsel for a defendant charged with the murder of his closest friend over 20 years ago. The body was discovered in a drain months after the deceased went missing and was originally believed to have been a suicide. The case involved complex issues in respect of pathology

2011 R v Brown : - Insurance funded defence of a young school teacher charged with causing death by dangerous driving

2011 R v Asif Khan : - Leading prosecution counsel for a 15 defendant Sussex/West Midlands CPS and police prosecution. The case involved the nationwide distribution of large quantities of class A drugs. It was described as one of the most complex enquiries ever launched by Sussex police.

2011 R v Ruiz-Guivara : - Leading counsel for one the defendants charged with three "running down" murders arising from the riots in Birmingham in Summer 2011. The prosecution alleges a multi-handed "joint enterprise". Numerous arguments involving encouragement/participation will arise at the trial. The trial is listed to run for approximately 8 weeks in April 2012