A week of triumph for our Silks

A week of triumph for our Silks, Sam Green KC, John Harrison KC, Jonathan Sandiford KC and Simon Myerson KC.

Sam Green KC, leading Andrew Dallas was instructed by Ayub Solicitors to represent Amaad Shakiel. Alongside 5 other men, Amaad Shakiel was charged with the murder of 19-year-old Kian Tordoff in October 2021. Mr Green KC secured the acquittal of Mr Shakiel following a lengthy trial before the Recorder of Bradford, HHJ Mansell QC.

At the start of the trial in early June the jury heard how Mr Tordoff died after suffering multiple stab wounds during a large-scale early-hours disturbance in the city centre last October. The 19-year-old died from major blood loss after a deep stab wound in the back damaged his lung and severed his main artery.

Instructed by Peter Minnikin of McCormicks, John Harrison KC, leading Denise Breen-Lawton KC, secured a verdict of manslaughter for their client, Jaroslaw Rutowicz who was jointly charged with Vitalijus Koreiva with one count of murder.  Verdicts of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter were secured following a three week trial in Leeds. The co-defendant was found guilty of murder.

The deceased was a friend of the defendants and was killed during their four-day drunken binge in Harrogate in December 2021. Three men went into the co-defendant’s flat and only two came out. The reason for the fatal assault were unclear but the infliction of some of the injuries was video recorded by the defendant on his phone. The deceased was found at the property wrapped in a large rug. He had severe facial injuries and dried blood around his eyes and mouth. Both defendants were arrested for Murder.  A ‘Cutthroat’ defence took place between the two defendants and following a trial at Leeds before HHJ Jameson QC, the jury came back with a verdict of manslaughter for Mr Rutowitcz.

In Operation Pivotedge at Leeds Crown Court, prosecuting counsel, Jonathan Sandiford KC and George Hazel-Owram secured guilty verdicts for murder, against three men for a drive-by shooting committed as part of an ongoing gang feud and turf war in Huddersfield. A fourth defendant was acquitted and a fifth convicted of perverting the course of justice and arson for burning one of two getaway cars used.

The three defendants convicted of murder were today sentenced to life imprisonment with minimum terms of more than 30 years each”.

Simon Myerson KC, instructed by Peter Minnikin of McCormicks Solicitors, represented Mr Braganza who was accused of firing his shotgun with intent to cause others fear of violence.  Mr Myerson QC secured the acquittal for Mr Braganza following a trial before HHJ Morris at York Crown Court.  The jury accepted that Mr Braganza was under attack from people on his own property, employed to reconstruct an old barn, and did no more than was reasonably necessary to protect himself, his wife and his home.