Holly Kilbey is an experienced criminal barrister specialising in serious and complex crime. She prosecutes and defends and is regularly instructed in cases involving serious sexual offences, firearms, organised crime, drugs and murder. She has considerable experience as junior counsel in lengthy and complex proceedings, but is equally experienced acting alone and has secured numerous acquittals in serious sexual cases.
She is known for combining effective and robust courtroom advocacy with a calm, approachable and compassionate manner. Holly is particularly skilled at working with vulnerable defendants and in cases involving sensitive allegations. She provides clear and pragmatic advice, ensuring her clients understand the issues in their case and feel supported throughout proceedings.
Holly is a natural and persuasive jury advocate. Her particular strength lies in identifying the issues that truly matter in a case and presenting them simply and convincingly. She has an instinctive understanding of how evidence is likely to be received by a jury and avoids unnecessary complication, focusing her cross-examination and speeches on points truly capable of making a difference to the outcome.
Holly also has significant experience in multi handed, complex disclosure work. She has been instructed as disclosure counsel in substantial criminal investigations and is accustomed to dealing with large volumes of digital and documentary material.
Her experience extends beyond courtroom advocacy as before coming to the Bar, Holly enjoyed a successful career in commercial and transactional finance working for CitiGroup in the UAE. In addition, she spent 2 years seconded as General Counsel at Eversheds Sutherland in their commercial team. Her commercial background gives her particular expertise and insight into financial crime and Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings. She is adept at analysing complex banking and transactional evidence and has completed a number of roles with the Serious Fraud Office and other governmental departments.
Holly is fluent in Brazilian Portuguese.
Led by Michelle Heeley KC in the prosecution of Andrew Thorpe for murder and attempted murder arising from two separate incidents. The case involved the attempted murder of a man who was repeatedly stabbed at his home and the subsequent murder of a fellow prisoner whilst Thorpe was remanded at HMP Nottingham. The prosecution involved detailed forensic evidence, including blood-spatter analysis, and complex legal and evidential issues. Thorpe was convicted of both offences following trial at Nottingham Crown Court and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 35 years.
Led by Michelle Heeley KC in the high-profile prosecution of Deng Chol Majek for the murder of Rhiannon Whyte. The case involved extensive CCTV analysis together with forensic and other circumstantial evidence. Majek was unanimously convicted of murder following trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years.
Led by Cathlyn Orchard in the prosecution of a substantial organised commercial cannabis operation involving cannabis factories across eight separate locations. Following conviction, there was a detailed Newton hearing concerning the respective roles of the defendants, with leading roles successfully established.
Led by Tim Harrington in the prosecution of four defendants involved in the operation of a drugs line supplying heroin and crack cocaine in Birmingham. The case involved detailed telephone and vehicle evidence establishing the operation of the drugs line and the respective roles of those involved. Guilty pleas were secured on the first day of trial.
Junior prosecution counsel, led by Jane Osborne KC, in a substantial three-month multi-defendant trial concerning a conspiracy to convert blank-firing weapons into viable firearms. The case required detailed understanding of highly technical firearms and expert evidence, together with surveillance and associated investigatory material. The evidential picture continued to develop during the trial, requiring ongoing analysis of newly served evidence and its impact upon the prosecution case.
Led by Rupert Doswell KC at the retrial of a defendant accused of trafficking two teenage girls and associated sexual offending. Successful submissions of no case to answer were made in respect of the trafficking allegation. The defendant was subsequently acquitted of the sexual assault allegations.
Successfully defended an allegation of sexual assault upon a teenager. Detailed examination of unused material and other available records informed the defence strategy and cross-examination. The defendant was unanimously acquitted.
Successfully defended a nine-count indictment concerning allegations of sexual abuse of the defendant’s stepdaughter over a period of approximately three years, reported several years after the alleged offending. Careful cross-examination of first-disclosure witnesses established a detailed chronology which revealed significant inconsistencies in the complainant’s account. The defendant was acquitted on all counts.
Successfully defended in a multi-defendant trial concerning allegations of rape against two young women following a night out. Careful analysis of the evidence and focused cross-examination distinguished Holly’s client’s alleged conduct from that of his co-defendant. Holly’s client was acquitted whilst the co-defendant was convicted.
Instructed to undertake specialist disclosure work in a conspiracy prosecution, including the review of telephone material prior to disclosure to the prosecution team. The work required careful identification and redaction of legally privileged and other sensitive material to ensure legal professional privilege was protected therefore maintaining the integrity of the trial.
Instructed as disclosure counsel in a substantial criminal investigation/prosecution involving the review and analysis of complex and extensive material to ensure disclosure obligations were met by the Crown in sufficient time to maintain a pressured trial date.
Deng Chol Majek has been sentenced to Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years in a case prosecuted by No 5 barristers, Michelle…
Michelle Heeley KC, leading Holly Kilbey, were instructed to prosecute Deng Chol Majek, who was found guilty by a unanimous jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court…
Deng Chol Majek has been sentenced to Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years in a case prosecuted by No 5 barristers, Michelle…
Michelle Heeley KC, leading Holly Kilbey, were instructed to prosecute Deng Chol Majek, who was found guilty by a unanimous jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court…
