Richard Davies represents defendant acquitted in stalking and attempted stabbing case

Allegations

The defendant faced four counts of alleged stalking involving serious alarm or distress, attempted section 18 GBH, threatening another with a bladed article and ABH.

Prosecution Case

The crown’s case was that the defendant had stalked a female complainant through hundreds of unwanted phone calls, turning up unannounced many times at her home address, destroying her personal possessions and taking various malicious actions against her such as contacting her husband. This situation was then said to culminate with him attending her place of work which led to an argument. Others present were said to intervene which led to the defendant allegedly attempting to stab a co-worker of the female complainant with a knife before going on to threaten the same co-worker with another knife. A fight developed which gave rise to the ABH allegation. The crown relied on a detailed video recorded interview with the complainant as well as supporting evidence from various witnesses who worked at the same restaurant as her as well as CCTV which showed most of the incident in the restaurant.

Defence Case

The defence case was that the complainant and the defendant were in a relationship. She had hidden from him that she was already married. When he broke off the relationship, after discovering she was married,  she made a false allegation of stalking against him. The defence sought disclosure of the defendant’s phone download which assisted in providing support for his narrative that he had never contacted her husband and that, rather than stalking, she would actually frequently contact him. A detailed review took place of the CCTV, with slowed down frame by frame analysis, which helped support a narrative of no actual attempted stabbing and, at other times, the defendant acting in self-defence.  Targeted cross-examination was used to highlight differences in parts of the evidence.

Outcome

Following a six day trial at Inner London Crown Court, Richard Davies’ client was unanimously acquitted of all counts following two and a half hours of deliberations. Richard was instructed by Mr Jas Virdee of Virdee Solicitors.

About the Barrister

Richard Davies was called to the Bar in 2013. He has a busy practice defending a wide range of allegations. Richard is ranked as a Leading Junior in Legal500 2027 in which he was recognised as:

“Richard is a hard-working and highly effective advocate. He has an excellent strategic sense and the confidence to pursue it. He is easy to work with and excellent with clients.”

To instruct Richard, please contact his clerks Ryan Bartlett and Stephanie Roles on 020 7404 1881.