Michael is recognised as a national experienced specialist in serious organised crime, gang related homicides (particularly involving young defendants, victims and witnesses), cybercrime, fraud, and regulatory work both in the UK and Commonwealth. He is a highly regarded and talented advocate with particular expertise in cell site, CCTV and technical evidence. Michael is instructed regularly by defence solicitors and Crown Prosecution, Complex Casework Units around the country. Michael has had experience in this field for over thirty five years having been made the youngest grade four prosecutor at the time at seven years call. Michael has been shortlisted for the second time by the Legal 500 for an award, this time in the national Crime and Extradition Silk of the Year 2024 category (he was previously shortlisted in 2015 for the regional Silk of the Year).
Michael is recognised as being one of the best Criminal Silks in the Midlands having been ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners UK and Tier 1 by the Legal 500 for over a decade and as a junior for many years. Michael both defends and prosecutes.
Michael is currently Head of the Crime Group at No5. He was Leader of the Midland Circuit from 2017- 2021 (one of only six silks peer-elected nationally) and helped liaise closely with the Government and the court system to enable the justice system to be up and running safely again during the Covid pandemic. Michael was elected to serve an extra year in this capacity due to the complex problems which existed – the usual term being only three years.
Notable Crime Cases
2024 R v Carpenter et al
Successful leading prosecution counsel in the trial of three men, aged 22,23, and 19 charged with the so called ‘retribution’ murder of footballer Cody Fisher on the Crane Nightclub dancefloor on Boxing Day 2022. The victim was stabbed to death – by inadvertently touching one of the defendants whilst on an evening out a few days previously. Two defendants were found guilty of murder and the third guilty of affray.
The case attracted much national and international media interest.
2023R v Nguyen et al
Trial took place at Bristol Crown Court October – December 2023. Leading counsel instructed by Wessex CCU, successful prosecution of a multi-million-pound organised crime importation of drugs.
2023 R v Ashraf
Trial took place at Sheffield Crown Court. Leading counsel representing a vulnerable teenager accused with five others of murder, false imprisonment, causing grievous bodily harm and rape.
The victim and the surviving victim were imprisoned by six drug gang members beaten, stripped and forced to perform sex acts on each other whilst being filmed. The surviving victim left for dead. The incident was triggered by a £300 drug debt.
2023 R v Naysmith
Successful prosecution of a man who lived in a house of multiple occupancy with his victim. Naysmith initially denied being with the victim at the time of the assault but blood spatter evidence indicated otherwise and revealed signs of a clean-up. The case involved significant mental health issues.
2022- 2023 R v Shaw
Nine-month trial leading counsel representing a financial adviser accused of a “Ponzi” type financial services scheme.
2022-2023 R v Malochleb et al
Leading prosecution counsel instructed by the Serious Economic Organised Crime and International Directorate of the CPS. The trials took place at Southwark Crown Court, main trial was January- March 2022, May- June 2022, September 2022 and ongoing trials in 2023.
Successful prosecution of large-scale cigarette importation using evidence from outside the jurisdiction.
2022 R v Edwards et al
Leading counsel prosecuting three defendants:- two 20-year-old men and one teenager aged 17, of the “Armed response gang” who were convicted of attempting to kill a 13-year-old boy who had wandered into their “patch”. The victim was shot with a homemade shotgun or slam gun, the attack left him paraplegic. Following detailed advice from counsel a fourth defendant was charged, tried (R v Clarke) and successfully convicted in 2023.
2022 R v Haynes and Widget
Leading counsel instructed by York Casework Directorate CPS. Both defendants convicted of the kicking to death of a man in the street. A drink/ drug fuelled unprovoked sustained attack of a defenceless man as he lay on the floor after an England Euro 2020 football game.
2022 R v Willington
Successful prosecution of a man who stabbed his friend/ associate to death on a supermarket car park in broad daylight. The victim had tried to intervene as the peacemaker when Willington got involved in a fight with another man. Willington turned on his friend and stabbed him multiple times.
2021-2022 R v Moore et al
Several trials involved; leading counsel in the prosecution of a ten- handed conspiracy to possess firearms and large-scale supply of drugs – complications arose from Covid 19 restrictions during and affecting the trial.
2021 R v Ugochukwu
Representation of an 18-year-old jointly accused with another 18-year-old and 16 and 14-year-old boys of the knife and firearm murder of a 15-year-old boy.
2020-2021 R v Tampwo et al
Leading prosecution counsel in a trial of four young gang members who had stabbed a 15-year-old schoolboy to death in a taxi in 2018. There were 43 stab wounds.
2020 R v Blake
Representation of a 19-year-old accused of the gang-related drive-by shooting of a 20-year-old victim along with two other males.
2019 R v Rothero et al
Leading counsel in a successful prosecution of a multi handed trial. The defendants were charged with robbery of exclusive homes and commercial premises using firearms and knives.
Defence of a young man accused of murder in a multi- handed drive by gang related shooting. The defendant was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter. Two of the co-defendants were convicted of the murder.
Prosecution of a man charged with murder of a man whom he had befriended. He left the body in the victim’s flat which remained undiscovered for a matter of days. The defendant was convicted.
Leading prosecution counsel of a young offender ( 17 years ) and a man (21 years) jointly charged with a revenge stabbing murder of a 16 year old boy outside McDonalds in Sutton Coldfield in broad daylight. Both were convicted.
Prosecution of a man accused of dragging a man alongside his vehicle at speeds of up to 30mph. Detailed CCTV evidence and significant bad character arguments. Defendant convicted of murder
Defence of a man charged with the manslaughter of his elderly neighbour by committing the unlawful act of knocking on his window. The prosecution alleged that the deceased’s death was caused by the stress of the initial incident. Detailed medical causation arguments from expert witnesses. Defendant was acquitted
Instructed as leading defence counsel for a man charged with murder following a drive-by -shooting along with four other men. The case had a history of gang related violence and was a retaliation shooting, Bad character arguments and detailed cell site evidence
Representation of the man described as the ringleader by the prosecution. The investigation involved 20 defendants and culminated in three trials running from January 2018 until October 2018. Responsible for the cross examination as to credit of all the vulnerable witnesses on behalf of all 8 defendants during the initial trial of those alleged to have been most seriously involved. There were approximately 13 vulnerable witnesses, a number of whom required an initial Ground Rules Hearing and/or the services of an intermediary. The disclosure process conducted on behalf of the defence took place over many months. Reporting restrictions were imposed throughout the trial sand lifted on 19th October 2018. Given leave to appeal conviction in January 2019. The Court of Appeal has requested I represent 7 out of the 8 appellants from the original trial at the appeal hearing later in 2019.
High profile case of a world- renowned liver surgeon who was prosecuted for the assault of two of his patients by marking his initials on their transplanted livers. The case attracted international publicity
Leading counsel in the representation of a man accused of murder/manslaughter along with two others. After a trial that involved extensive CCTV analysis the defendant was acuitted of murder, manslaughter and possession of an offensive weapon. One co-defendant was convicted
2017/2016 R v Hough
Leading counsel in the representation of an accountant accused of taking part in a GBP 5 million conspiracy to defraud which is alleged to have involved imitating Government “provision of service” websites (a three month trial was due in in September 2016 but adjourned until September 2017). The defendant was acquitted of all charges.
Leading counsel for the first defendant in a four handed murder trial. The defendant was the alleged gunman in a joint enterprise robbery and subsequent shooting from close range. The defendant was acquitted of murder and robbery. It was a case that involved complex hearsay arguments and bad character applications
2016 Operation Fry
Leading counsel instructed in the multi-handed prosecution of teenage gang members involved in the supply of class A drugs using firearms to enforce their will. There were complex issues around disclosure and involvement was from the pre-charge phase.
Representation of a man accused of involvement in a joint enterprise shooting. Legal arguments re joint enterprise and bad character. The defendant was acquitted of murder and further charges whilst his co- defendants were convicted.
2015 /2016 Operation Navigator/Staunch
Leading counsel for the prosecution in the prosecution of a target criminal accused of two separate conspiracies to murder. Detailed legal arguments in respect of disclosure, joinder, representation.
The court required assistance with a detailed analysis of the provisions of MHA over the last 50 years. The defendant had been released from a hospital order fifteen years after committing the homicide of 5 entirely innocent individuals.
Leading counsel for the defendant accused of fraudulent trading and conspiracy to defraud. The prosecution alleged that he had dishonestly run a hot tub supply company and defrauded customers of approximately GBP 3 million as a result of non-delivery of goods. The case involved complex bad character and disclosure matters
Leading Counsel for the defendant. A 23 year old man accused of the abduction and murder of a 17 year old daughter of a serving police officer and abandoning her body in North Wales (the case attracted national publicity)
Leading counsel for the prosecution. The largest drugs conspiracy in Shropshire involving 29 defendants dealing in large amounts of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis. Complex POCA proceedings.
Leading defence counsel representing a man accused of stabbing to death two “Big Issue” sellers at peak commuter time in Birmingham City Centre. There was significant national and local publicity
Multi handed drugs importation Leading counsel for the prosecution in a multi-million pound drugs conspiracy due to last up to three months and involve multiple defendants. Complex technological evidence, financial evidence and disclosure issues arouse.
Leading counsel for one the defendants charged with three “running down” murders arising from the riots in Birmingham in Summer 2011. The prosecution alleged a multi-handed “joint enterprise”. Numerous arguments involving encouragement/participation and disclosure arose at the trial. The trial lasted for 13 weeks resulting in the acquittal of all defendants. The case attracted significant national publicity
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. It was the largest criminal trial undertaken by East Midlands Complex Casework Unit.
Leading junior counsel in the prosecution of a leading member of a notorious local gang –“the Johnson Crew”. 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.
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)
“M40 Bikers case” Defence junior counsel
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
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.
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
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
prosecution junior in both trials. Securing the conviction of Latus in 2003 following the murder of Julian Sanders in 2000. In 2002 trial Latus had admitted the manslaughter of his Landlord John Folkes and was convicted of the attempted murder of his mother.
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.
