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Background

Jonas Hankin KC

Call: 1994 | Silk: 2013

"The go-to man for child murders. The absolute expert in the country"

Chambers UK 2024

"An exceptional and skilful barrister"

Legal 500 2024

"Second to none in deploying expert evidence"

Chambers UK 2024

"A wonderful advocate with a fantastic grasp of pathology"

Legal 500 2019

"A heavyweight homicide practitioner"

Legal 500 2017

Jonas is a homicide specialist, renowned for his ability to master complex medical evidence and examine expert witnesses with precision and skill.

He is an excellent lawyer, an intelligent strategist, and a persuasive trial advocate. These qualities are reflected in his track record of success, which is second to none.

Expertise

Crime

Jonas offers expert advice and advocacy in homicide cases, from the very earliest stages of an investigation (pre-charge), through to the conclusion of proceedings.

He is best known for his work in cases concerning child homicide, in which field his knowledge and experience is unrivalled.

Notable Crime Cases


R v Michael Davis and Kayleigh Driver [2024] (Cotter J)

Instructed by CPS to advise on charge in a case concerning a baby who, by the time of his death, had sustained 40 fractures. The fatal injury was a broken neck that was sustained between 4 and 8 days prior to death. Experts in 10 areas of clinical medicine and pathology were instructed and advice given that the suspects should be charged with murder and other associated offences.The baby’s father was convicted of murder and two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years. The baby’s mother was convicted of causing or allowing a child to die and causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child, and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.


R v COR and BC [2024] (Choudhury J)

Instructed by CPS to advise on charge in a harrowing case concerning life-changing and life-limiting head injuries to a baby, who also displayed signs of sexual violence upon examination. Experts in 6 areas of clinical medicine were instructed and called to give evidence at trial. The baby’s father was convicted of three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of child cruelty, one count of causing a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and two counts of taking an indecent photograph of a child, and sentenced to an extended sentence of 25 years imprisonment. The baby’s mother was convicted of two counts of causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child, one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm, two counts of child cruelty, one count of causing a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, and sentenced to an extended sentence of 10 years imprisonment.


R v Katie Tidmarsh [2023] (Wall J)

Instructed by CPS to advise on reinstatement of proceedings after a decision made by CPS in 2013 not to prosecute a woman for the alleged killing of her adoptive baby in 2012. Experts in 12 areas of clinical medicine and pathology were instructed and advice given that the suspect should be charged with murder and associated sub-lethal violence. Wall J refused an application to stay the trial as being an abuse of process. The defendant was successfully prosecuted for murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm.


R v Leila Borrington [2023] (Nicklin J)

Instructed by CPS to advise on charge in a case concerning the death from closed head injury of a 3-year-old boy with autism, one feature of which was self-injurious behaviour including head-banging. Experts in 9 areas of clinical medicine and pathology were instructed. The defendant was successfully prosecuted for manslaughter and inflicting grievous bodily harm on the same child on two previous occasions.


R v Paris Mayo [2023] (Garnham J)

Instructed by CPS to advise on charge in a case concerning the death of a newborn baby born to a 15-year- old girl in secret following a concealed pregnancy. Experts in 10 areas of clinical medicine and pathology were instructed, along with two experts in forensic and adolescent psychiatry. The defendant was successfully prosecuted for murder, the jury rejecting the partial defence of infanticide.


R v Laura Heath [2022] (Dove J)

Instructed by CPS to advise on charge in a case concerning the death of a 7-year-old from uncontrolled asthma. Experts in respiratory medicine and pathology were instructed. The child’s mother was charged and convicted of gross negligence manslaughter and child cruelty.


R v Emma Tustin & Thomas Hughes [2021] (Wall J)

Successful prosecution of two defendants for the shocking abuse and killing of 6-year-old Arthur Labinjo- Hughes during lockdown. Emma Tustin was convicted of murder and child cruelty. Thomas Hughes was convicted of manslaughter and child cruelty. The Judge described the evidence as “distressing and disturbing” with the protracted cruelty amounting to “unimaginable suffering”. In an unprecedented gesture, the Secretary of State for Education publicly acknowledged Jonas’ outstanding work in this troubling case in a formal statement to the House of Commons.


R v Haroldas Bugaila [2021] (Baker J)

Instructed by CPS to advise on charge in a case concerning the death of a 2-month-old baby and life- changing brain damage sustained by his surviving twin. Experts in 12 areas of clinical medicine and pathology were instructed. The children’s father was charged and convicted of murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.


Related News, Resources and Events

Uncategorised


Jonas Hankin KC and Chloe Ashley prosecute mother found guilty of murdering her new-born son

Paris Mayo was 15 when she gave birth to her son in 2019, after concealing both the pregnancy and birth. The defendant claimed that she…

Uncategorised


Jonas Hankin KC prosecutes woman convicted and sentenced for the manslaughter of her severely autistic stepson

Leila Borrington was found guilty of the Manslaughter of 3-year-old Harvey Borrington, following a trial lasting 8 weeks before the Hon. Mr Justice Nicklin and…

View all related news

    

"Jonas really knows his stuff. He has really good technical knowledge and is really good at communicating it, making complex things simple - Ranked in Crime Band 1"


"An outstanding barrister. He is one of the field leaders in cases of homicide or serious injury involving complex medical and causation issues. He has significant experience in assessing detailed medical material and identifying further lines of enquiry. He is a confident and highly articulate advocate with the ability to present the most nuanced and factually complex cases to juries in an accessible manner".


"A silk who provides expertise in complex criminal cases. His practice takes in cases requiring sophisticated analysis of pathological evidence”. Ranked in Crime Band 1.


"An advocate who exhibits a real command of the detail of the cases in which he is instructed. He is frequently instructed in cases involving complex medical issues and has a real specialism in this area".


"Ranked in Crime Band 1"


"Recommended for cases involving expert medical evidence"


"He is very skilled in making sure experts deliver information to juries in an accessible way". "He has a precise style of advocacy”. Ranked in Crime Band 1.


"A smooth operator with a very fine legal mind. He is an expert on cases involving complex medical matters". "His legal knowledge is excellent, as is his work ethic. He is very approachable and always on hand to offer advice and assistance whether on a case or informally"


"Recommended for cases involving expert medical evidence”. Ranked in Crime Band 1.


"He is very much in demand". "A child murder expert". "A class act"


"He always has command of complex evidence"


"He has a commanding presence in court and a profound understanding of complex cases."


"Extremely talented, energetic, and hard-working. He is an astute tactician and a tenacious cross-examiner. He is particularly good on homicide matters relating to young children, and cases with intricate medical issues and clinical evidence."


  • Educated at King’s College London, Birmingham University and the Inns of Court School of Law.
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Related News, Resources and Events

Uncategorised


Jonas Hankin KC and Chloe Ashley prosecute mother found guilty of murdering her new-born son

Paris Mayo was 15 when she gave birth to her son in 2019, after concealing both the pregnancy and birth. The defendant claimed that she…

Uncategorised


Jonas Hankin KC prosecutes woman convicted and sentenced for the manslaughter of her severely autistic stepson

Leila Borrington was found guilty of the Manslaughter of 3-year-old Harvey Borrington, following a trial lasting 8 weeks before the Hon. Mr Justice Nicklin and…

View all related news

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