16-year-old acquitted of gang murder
Kevin Jones defended a 16-year-old from Telford who was acquitted of murder following an eight-week trial at Stafford Crown Court.
Mr Jones was led by Gurdeep Garcha QC of Citadel Chambers and instructed by Claire Mills of WMB Law, Telford.
The youth was charged with murder and assault occasioning actual bodily harm alongside three other defendants.
The prosecution case was that the defendants were gang members on their way to a planned confrontation with a rival gang. They passed the victim on a footpath and an argument became violent. All four members of the gang were said to be armed with bladed weapons including a samurai sword. The victim and his friend were both attacked. The victim was fatally stabbed with a kitchen knife and later died in hospital from his injuries. His friend made a full recovery.
The defendant denied that he was aware of any planned violence and disputed that he was carrying any ​weapon. His defence was that he was not responsible for any violence and was not part of any joint enterprise.
Two defendants were convicted of the murder and ABH by the jury. The third had pleaded guilty to both offences shortly before the trial. They will be sentenced later this year.
Mr Jones’ client was unanimously acquitted by the jury.
The case has received coverage on the BBC, the Sun, the Shropshire Star, the website of West Mercia Police and the CPS website.
