Evelyn Hicks
Litigation
Case: Manslaughter
Verdict: Aquittal
Manslaughter is a difficult case to try given the many limbs, but this case was particularly difficult as it involved unlawful act manslaughter: one punch.
The death of another occurred during an altercation where self defence was raised as a live issue from even before arrest.
Full accounts were given in interviews and the defendants account did not waiver from the interviews at the police station within hours of the incident, to being cross-examined during the seven day trial.
For the two years leading to this case came to trial, a lot of hard work went into reviewing evidence, scene photos, cctv stills and footage.
Gareth Hughes of 187 chambers was instructed to defend this case.
The jury concluded that this defendant did act in self defence and this was a tragic accident.
There are no winners in such a case; two families have been pulled apart for two years, and both still have to come to terms with a death.