Client Acquitted of Joint Enterprise Murder

Not guilty verdict - client exonerated

Date posted: 17 Oct 2025

London

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Crown Court

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Case start date

26 Sep 2024

Significance

Significant

Case study summary

At 17 years old, our client was wrongfully accused of murder following the death of a 15-year-old boy. We were able to show that the case was based on guesswork with no evidence of joint enterprise. After a five week trial, our client was the only defendant found Not Guilty.

Case study

In September 2024, we were contacted by a terrified mother who's son had been arrested for murder. The day before, a 15-year-old boy had been stabbed in broad daylight on the streets of Woolwich. It was a devastating series of events which captured the attention of national newspapers and placed immense pressure on the police to find those who were to blame. Our client was the first to be arrested for murder. A murder he did not commit.

Upon our arrival at the police station, it was clear that our client was vulnerable. He had already been interviewed with another solicitor present and we were instructed to step in when the family were concerned about the representation he was receiving. Our client maintained his innocence and had already put forward a statement setting out his account. With no one else arrested, and the public pushing for justice, our client was charged with murder even though he did not match the description of the perpetrator given by any of the witnesses. Shortly after, two further defendants were charged and the case was listed for trial at The Old Bailey in June 2024.

During the preparations for trial, the prosecution failed to show any link between our client and the 15-year-old who had been stabbed. Instead, they simply stated that the act was a result of 'drug warfare' despite having no evidence of this. It was clear to us that this entire prosecution was based on guesswork. The prosecution had no evidence of a connection between our client and the victim or of a plan between him and his co-defendants. They simply had footage of our client arriving at the scene of the crime with his co-defendants six minutes before the stabbing which was enough for them to accuse him of murder.

On first glance, the timings were problematic for our client but he maintained his innocence and we assured him that we would help the jury to see the truth. After hours of conferences in prison, we were able to piece together a comprehensive timeline of his day. It was clear that this was a terrible case of coincidence and our client truly had no involvement. Despite a strong defence, our client decided that he would not give evidence. His vulnerabilities made him worry for how he may react during the trial and we feared the same. The prosecution case was weak and there was no real case for him to answer anyway. As a result, our client did not speak a word throughout the trial.

We put our client's case to the jury through careful questioning of prosecution witnesses and co-defendants. By the time the jury came to consider their verdicts, they heard the police accept that our client did not know the 15 year old boy, there was not enough time for our client to have caught up with his co-defendants and the victim, and there was no plan for his involvement in the stabbing. Put simply, there was not a piece of evidence they could use to convict our client.

Following careful consideration, our client was the only one of the three defendants to be found Not Guilty of murder. After ten months in prison, which included spending his 18th birthday on trial, our client was released from The Old Bailey at 18:00 that same day. He walked out into the arms of his family and free to continue the good life he started to build for himself.


Profile image of Mary Monson Solicitors criminal lawyer Caitlin Watson-Scoley

Caitlin joined the firm in 2021 and has undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in law. She works in our London office on serious criminal and fraud cases. She is motivated by the chance of providing support and guidance to clients who often need it.

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