Sam Parham is a busy criminal defence practitioner, regularly instructed in serious cases. He has an expertise in human trafficking cases and the operation of the statutory defence for victims of trafficking under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. He advises on a wide range of appellate cases, including appeals against conviction and sentence in historic cases. Sam is Public Access qualified.
Criminal Defence
Overview
Sam is a busy criminal defence practitioner who is regularly instructed in cases concerning serious violence, sexual offences, drug trafficking and fraud.
Notable Cases
Murder
Aaron McKenzie (2020) Central Criminal Court
Sam represented AM who was charged with the murder of his ex-partner, Kelly Fauvrelle, who was almost 9 months pregnant at the time and the manslaughter of her baby. He was born by caesarean section as she died but tragically died himself days later. Reported by the BBC.
Andrew Murrell (2019) Snaresbrook Crown Court
Sam was sole counsel for AM, who was acquitted the attempted murder of his former friend. M had been accused of deliberately running him over three times with his van.
Alex Glanfield-Collis (2019) Central Criminal Court
Sam acted for AGC, who was acquitted of the murder of her partner. She had been the victim of coercive control and successfully argued that the partial defence of loss of control applied. Reported by the BBC.
Dwayne Edgar & others (2019) Bristol Crown Court
Sam represented DE at his re-trial for an allegation of the murder of man in broad daylight in Cardiff in 2016. He and two other men had been convicted at an original trial but the convictions were overturned when evidence of close contact between a juror and a police officer closely involved with the case was established. Reported in the Sun.
Can Taycur & others (2018) St. Albans Crown Court
Sam represented CT who was acquitted of the murder of a man who had travelled from London to collect money following a scam committed by CT and his friend. Reported by the BBC.
Dean Copeland (2016) Central Criminal Court
Sam was junior counsel for DC who was alleged to have murdered a man on his doorstep in Battersea by shooting him at point blank range. DC was acquitted of murder. Reported in the Evening Standard.
Sexual offences
DCR (2020) Leicester Crown Court
Sam acted for DCR who was charged with the rape and false imprisonment of two 13 year old girls who he had supplied with alcohol and nitrous oxide. Reported by the BBC.
TF (2020) Swindon Crown Court
Sam represented TF who was acquitted of the rape of his 15 year old step-sister. Reported in the local press.
PN (2019) Lewes Crown Court
Sam represented PN who was acquitted of a series of sexual assaults inside a care home.
JV (2019) Blackfriars Crown Court
Sam acted for JV who was accused of a series of sexual assaults, including on the police officer who was interviewing him under caution in respect of earlier sexual offences.
ER (2018) Blackfriars Crown Court
Sam represented ER, a healthcare worker at the Whittington Hospital, charged with sexual assaults on bed-bound patients.
MI (2017) Snaresbrook Crown Court
Sam represented MI, a 13 year old boy who was acquitted of the rape of his 14 year old cousin.
Drugs, fraud & money laundering
ME (2020) Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court
Sam was instructed as leading counsel, representing ME who was charged in relation to a large conspiracy to move stolen property, including very rare books, out of the country to Romania. Reported in the Guardian.
Louise St. John Poulton (2020), Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court
Sam acted for LSJP who was charged with a conspiracy to defraud in relation to the sale of illegally farmed puppies.
Danielle Avery (2019) Woolwich Crown Court
Sam acted for DA who was charged with possession of a kilo of cocaine with intent to supply. She was acquitted by the jury who convicted her co-defendant who had falsely accused her of framing him.
Damian Clarke (2019) Croydon Crown Court
Sam represented DC who was accused of the importation of cocaine in food packets from Jamaica.
Contact Sam
Criminal Appeals
Overview
Sam has a successful appellate practice and regularly advises on a wide range of appellate cases, including advising on appeals against conviction and sentence in historic cases.
Notable Cases
Christopher Whatcott [2019] EWCA Crim 1889
Re: legality of contractual terms in a fraudulent trading case
Kamrun Sakera [2019] EWCA Crim 2186
Sentence reduced in fraud case following Sam’s submissions
Zepheana Badley [2018] EWCA Crim 2842
Re: extended sentences; mental disorder
Jamie Ryan & others [2018] EWCA Crim 2517
Re: sentencing in firearms/ammunition cases
Kiel Melbourne & others [2018] EWCA Crim 3111
Re: sentencing in drugs trafficking cases