Anya Lewis KC

Overview

Anya is an experienced criminal defence advocate regularly instructed in cases of complexity and sensitivity including those involving vulnerable defendants and witnesses. She has particular skill and experience in cases involving Non-Accidental Head Injuries and the challenges of the medical issues involved in this area. She appears in multi-handed murder, firearms and drugs cases. She has a wealth of experience in representing defendants charged with sexual offences including historic allegations.

Notable Cases

Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.

Baby-shaking cases

In Silk

R v DH (Inner-London Crown Court) the defendant was charged with shaking his 11 weeks old son who was alleged to have brain injuries and multiple fractures.  The case involved complex medical evidence
 
R v JF (Harrow Crow Court) the defendant was charged with causing the death of her daughter by failing to obtain medical help for her.  Issues included causation with numerous experts called on behalf of both parties.

As a Leading Junior/Junior

R v CD (Chelmsford Crown Court) the defendant was charged with the murder of his son when his son died 15 years after an alleged shake had left him severely disabled and with a shortened life expectancy the defendant having been convicted of the original assault.  After complex legal argument a plea to manslaughter was accepted.
 
R v L (Lewes Crown Court) represented a mother who suffered from Factitious Disorder by Proxy and pleaded guilty to inflicting serious injuries to her son.

R v S (Isleworth Crown Court) leading counsel in a case where the defendant was acquitted of shaking his daughter on his re-trial, after successfully appealing his conviction in the Court of Appeal;

R v TM (Luton Crown Court) the defendant was acquitted of murdering her young son; her violent partner was convicted of his murder. Anya undertook the medical cross-examination in the case which also involved issues connected to battered-wife syndrome and the calling of experts in that field;

R v S (Central Criminal Court) the defendant was charged with murdering his young son. Anya undertook the cross-examination of the main expert medical witness;

R v Y (Central Criminal Court) the defendant was charged with the manslaughter of his son when his son died 12 years after an alleged shake had left him severely disabled and with a shortened life expectancy; the case, which resulted in an acquittal, involved complex legal argument including abuse of process and medical evidence;

R v A (Central Criminal Court) a young woman was acquitted of shaking her baby son to death in the context of the child having severe Vitamin D deficiency.

Murder, serious violence and firearms

In Silk

R v EM (Central Criminal Court) represented a single defendant in a murder trial involving psychiatric evidence and a defence of diminished responsibility.

R v PD (Stafford Crown Court) defendant in 9-handed murder case acquitted of murder and manslaughter.

R v ILM (Nottingham Crown Court) represented the first defendant in a five-handed murder case (jury discharged awaiting re-trial);

R v CN (Maidstone Crown Court) the defendant, who was jointly charged with his brother of attempted murder, was acquitted of the main charge but convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life following a trial.  The prosecution abandoned key DNA evidence as a result of detailed legal submissions in relation to the use of unvalidated software being used to undertake statistical analysis of complex familial DNA mixtures;

R v JG (Kingston Crown Court) young defendant acquitted of murder at half-time following a successful submission of no case to answer in a multi-handed murder case where the defence successfully resisted the prosecution’s application to rely on gang-related evidence including drill music.

As a Leading Junior/Junior

R v DM (Central Criminal Court) defendant acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter following a multi-handed murder trial;

R v DS (Lincoln Crown Court) the defendant was acquitted of manslaughter following an assault in a prison setting  Anya appeared as junior alone;

R v DF (Isleworth Crown Court) the defendant was tried for attempted murder after shooting a police officer during a psychotic episode;

R v TO (Central Criminal Court) the defendant was acquitted of murder in a multi-handed cases where Anya’s command of CCTV evidence led to the prosecution making significant concession before they opened their case;

R v DS (Central Criminal Court) defendant acquitted of murder after a man was stabbed to death in a fight;

R v GH (Central Criminal Court) the defendant was tried for murder where a body had been stored in his attic for 6 months.

R v S and others (Kingston Crown Court) multi-handed attempted murder trial where Anya appeared as junior alone which resulted in the acquittal of all 3 defendants;

R v P and others (Nottingham Crown Court) multi-handed murder case in relation to a fire-bombing in Leicester;

R v BH (Birmingham Crown Court) multi-handed possession of firearms with intent trial;

R v L-M (Nottingham Crown Court) the defendant was acquitted of murder at halftime in a case involving a gang-shooting;

Sexual offences

In Silk

R v JH (Snaresbrook Crown Court; private instructions) the defendant, a man of good character, faced allegations of sexual assault against a work colleague. The prosecution offered no evidence following the service of a detailed bad-character/section 41 application;
 
R v RS (Reading Crown Court; private instructions) the defendant, a man of good character, was acquitted by the jury of allegations of sexual assault against a young woman in relation to who he was in a position of trust;
 
R v CD (Sheffield Crown Court; private instructions) the defendant, a man of good character, faced numerous historical allegations including rape and sexual activity with a child.  The prosecution offered no evidence following the cross-examination of the complainant. 

As a Leading Junior/Junior

R v HS (Harrow Crown Court) leading counsel for the first defendant in a multi-handed case where the defendant was acquitted of conspiracy to facilitate the trafficking of a person for exploitation.

R v SG (Southwark Crown Court) the prosecution offered no evidence in relation to all matters following legal submissions in a case involving historical allegations of rape and other sexual offences. 

R v BN (Southwark Crown Court) the defendant was acquitted of allegations of inciting prostitution in a complex case where the defendant was jointly charged with an allegedly corrupt police officer. 

R v C (Snaresbrook Crown Court) defendant charged with rape and other serious sexual offences against his young daughter;

R v DW (Woodgreen Crown Court) the defendant was acquitted of current and historical allegations of familial rape against his niece.

R v M and others (Harrow Crown Court) defendant acquitted in multi-handed gang-rape trial;

R v K (Aylesbury Crown Court) defendant acquitted of numerous allegations of rape in the context of an arranged marriage;

R v H (Manchester Crown Court) defendant tried in relation to allegations of violent stranger rape;

R v P (Cardiff Crown Court) defendant acquitted of the majority of counts of historic child sex abuse on three step-granddaughters.

Terrorism

R v Y (Birmingham Crown Court) the defendant was tried in relation to allegations of possessing documents containing terrorist information;

R v S (Central Criminal Court) represented a young man charged with travelling to fight in Syria.

Drugs

In Silk
 
R v DT (Woodgreen Crown Court) conducted a contested Newton Hearing in relation to a conspiracy to import and supply significant quantities of Class A drugs.

As a Leading Junior/Junior

R v L (Inner London Crown Court) defendant acquitted of importing 1/2 kilo of cocaine;

R v S (Kingston Crown Court) a multi-handed conspiracy to import 87 kilos of heroin. A SOCA prosecution where the defendant was also indicted on separate counts of running a cocaine pressing factory. The defendant was acquitted on all counts;

R v O (Southwark Crown Court) represented the first defendant in a multi-handed million-pound class-A drug importation case;

R v M (Inner London Crown Court) multi-handed large-scale Class A drug importation;

R v S (Cardiff Crown Court) large-scale drug importation. VHCC case.

Perverting the course of justice

R v A and others (Leicester Crown Court) he defendant was jointly charged on a murder indictment in relation to an allegation of assisting an offender in relation to the shooting of a young woman in a gang related case; he was acquitted;

R v M (Central Criminal Court) Anya secured the acquittal of a vulnerable defendant who was charged with trying to hide the weapon her husband had just used to stab his best friend to death in a drunken incident.

Overview

Anya's fraud experience is significant. She is ranked in the Legal 500 for Crime: Fraud.

Notable Cases

Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.

R v S and others (Nottingham Crown Court) defendant acquitted of conspiracy to commit fraud following a successful submission of no case to answer in an 11-handed trial.

R v B and others (Southwark Crown Court) defendant acquitted of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation following 10 handed trial.

R v S (Worcester Crown Court) Anya represented a doctor accused of fraud by false representation in relation to the obtaining of his consultancy role.

R v N and others (Southwark Crown Court) Anya secured the acquittal of a profoundly deaf defendant charged with a million-pound access-to-work fraud.

R v R and others (Southwark Crown Court) Anya was counsel for the first defendant in Operation Tangelo, a £10 million excise diversion fraud, which collapsed as a result of failings in prosecution disclosure. VHCC case.

R v G and others (Harrow Crown Court) a million-pound mortgage fraud case which was stayed as the result of an abuse of process application mounted by Anya.

R v Z and others (Kingston Crown Court) case dealing with offences under Medicines Act 1968 and Trade Descriptions Act 1968. VHCC case.

R v MM and others (Southwark Crown Court) million-pound post-office fraud.

Overview

Anya has always enjoyed representing those involved in offences connected to public protest and the challenge of the legal issues which often accompany such cases. She was involved in the early part of her career in representing a number of defendants involved in campaigning against the introduction of GM crops (in both the Magistrates Courts and the Crown Courts). She has also represented those involved in campaigning against the Iraq war, animal cruelty, arms fairs, climate change and the student riots of 2015.

Notable Cases

R v SVH (Winchester Crown Court) Anya represented a defendant who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail in connection with Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty campaign;

R v K (Nottingham Crown Court) Anya represented one of 6 climate change activists in second Ratcliffe on Soar trial which collapsed as a result of arguments on abuse of process and disclosure relating to an undercover police officer;

Tilly v DPP [2001] EWCA Admin 821 (definition of aggravated trespass).

Overview

Anya has experience of representing children and young people particularly when they are charged with serious violence and sexual offences in both the Crown Court and on certificates for counsel in the Youth Court.  She was invited by the Michael Sieff Foundation to contribute to a roundtable seminar on Youth Justice and has spoken on the issue of jury trial access for children at Just For Kids Law Youth Justice Summit 2018.

Notable Cases

Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.

R v L (Central Criminal Court) young defendant acquitted of rape.

R v G (Highbury Corner Youth Court) leading counsel for a vulnerable and mentally unwell young defendant facing serious sexual allegations against other family members.  Obtained a hospital order and avoided a criminal conviction. 

R v F (Highbury Corner Youth Court) a multi-handed trial where the defendants faced allegations of serious sexual assault.

R v S successfully represented the defendant pro bono at the Court of Appeal on his appeal against sentence for Just for Kids Law.