Nottingham solicitor advocate Phil Plant recently represented a client before Nottingham Crown Court who face the serious allegation of inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent (Section 18 GBH). After trial, he was found not guilty.
Assault Following False Allegations
Phil’s client was said, along with a co-accused, to have taken part in a brutal revenge attack on the victim following false allegations that he had assaulted a female friend.
The victim had been so badly beaten that was so badly beaten he suffered a displaced fractured of the jaw. It also led to him suffering almost total amnesia and his recollection was based on harrowing flashbacks of the incident that continued to haunt him.
Lesser Charge Instead of Section 18 GBH?
Upon conviction, our client could expect a substantial period of imprisonment. The prosecution had told us that it would accept a plea to the lesser charge of inflicting GBH (Section 20 rather than section 18 GBH). Phil’s client insisted that he was not involved at all, so chose to have his trial.
The victim asserted that the the complainant named both of the accused as the perpetrators of the attack. Phil’s client did not accept that he was part of the attack, although he did witness it.
When questioned by Phil the complainant conceded that his client was not the kind of man who would behave in the manner he described, conceding perhaps that it appeared unlikely that his client did indeed take part in the attack.
The other defendant had given given different accounts during the course of the investigation. At trial he maintained that it was our client who had carried out the assault.
Not Guilty Verdict
Having heard evidence tested through Phil’s expert cross-examination the jury found his client not guilty. The other accused, separately represented, was convicted of the original offence and received a significant custodial sentence of several years.
Contact Phil Plant
If you wish to instruct Phil to represent you at trial before Nottingham Crown Court then please contact him on 0115 9599550 or email him here.