Thalia's practice at the English Bar has been predominantly defending in serious crimes and acting for bereaved families in Article 2 inquests. She has a growing international practice.
Criminal Defence
Overview
Thalia has over 15 years of experience as a criminal advocate. She has defended in a range of offences including murder, rape, historical sexual offences and other violent crimes.
Notable Cases
Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.
R v Junior Kettle, Central Criminal Court
D was charged with kidnap x 2; false imprisonment x 2 and murder in a six-handed cut-throat trial which ran from 18th September to 30th November. The allegation was that he was part of an organised crime group which abducted and detained a well-known Turkish DJ and his girlfriend and thereafter tortured him to death. D was acquitted on all counts.
R v Zaman, Birmingham Crown Court
Conspiracy to Murder - defendant acquitted. Led junior in 3 ½ months long trial which involved extensive PII and disclosure applications, abuse arguments arising from the conduct of WMP in the police investigation.
R v A, Sheffield Crown Court
Allegations of historical rape and sexual assaults (12 counts) - defendant acquitted. The trial judge commended Thalia for the sensitivity with which she conducted her cross examination of the complainant.
R v T, Wood Green Crown Court
Allegation of rape - defendant acquitted. The defence called expert evidence of secondary transfer of DNA in response to the crown's reliance on evidence of the defendant's DNA on the complainant's body.
R v B, Aylesbury Crown Court
Allegation of rape - defendant acquitted.
R v Marshall, Central Criminal Court
s18, (stabbing) - defendant acquitted - self defence raised.
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Inquests and Inquiries
Overview
Thalia is currently instructed on behalf of bereaved, residents and survivors in the Public Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Thalia acts for bereaved families in Article 2 inquests.
She is developing a public inquiries practice and has acted for campaigners against child sexual abuse who were designated core participants in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).
Thalia has also acted for bereaved families in Coroner's Court proceedings in Jamaica and is an advocate for the reform of Jamaica's Coroner's Court proceedings.
Thalia is currently acting for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. See press coverage: iNews, BBC News
Notable Cases
Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.
UK Covid-19 Inquiry Thalia is currently acting on behalf of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. See press coverage: iNews, BBC News
Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry Thalia is currently instructed on behalf of bereaved, residents and survivors in the Public Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Hillsborough Inquests Thalia acted for bereaved families in the Hillsborough inquests where the jury concluded that the 96 Liverpool football fans were unlawfully killed. She was a member of the pathology team for 77 of the 96 which examined the pathology and medical evidence relevant to the timeline of death and medical cause of death.
Inquest into the death of Ann Marie Cox (2009) City of London Coroner's Court. Ann Marie died at HMP Holloway. The jury was critical of the prison's nursing staff's failure to administer Ann Marie's anti-psychotic medication which contributed to the deterioration of her health and their falsifying of her medical records to record that the medication had been administered, reported in the Guardian.
Inquest into the death of Jean Charles De Menezes. Her work included reviewing disclosed documents, schedules of evidence, attending conferences with Counsel and attending a Pre-Inquest Review.
Inquest into the death of Lexy Williams (2009) North London Coroner's Court. The jury returned a narrative which was critical of the MPS's pursuit policy. She was junior to Heather Williams Q.C. at the inquest.
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International Crime and Conflict Law
Overview
Thalia has a growing international practice, appearing in the Privy Council and advising on the merits of appealing to the Privy Council, particularly criminal convictions and cases which raise constitutional law issues. She has also appeared before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as junior counsel to Leslie Thomas KC.
Notable Cases
Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.
International Practice: Privy Council Appeals
Grant v The Queen [2007] 1 AC 1. Successful appeal against murder conviction where the constitutionality of the Jamaican Evidence Act provision relying on statement of absent witness was challenged.
Tapper v The Queen [2012] 1 WLR 2712. Criminal appeal, whether a delay in proceedings was in breach of the constitutional right to due process.
Phipps v DPP and AG [2012] UKPC 24. Appeal against murder conviction.
Commissioner of Police and Another v Steadroy Benjamin [2014] UKPC 8, Criminal law appeal which considered the right of a citizen to institute criminal proceedings and the power of the of the DPP to discontinue criminal proceedings.
Turks and Caicos Islands (Court of Appeal) [2017] Thalia was instructed for the defence in an appeal against a murder conviction in the TCI.
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Environmental Law and Climate Justice
John Mussington and Jacklyn Frank v Development Control Authority and ors [2024] UKPC 3
In this case two Barbudans challenged by way of judicial review the Antiguan government’s decision to grant planning permission for a new airport on the island on Barbuda. Their challenge was dismissed in the Caribbean court on grounds that they lacked standing to bring the claim. That decision was the subject of a successful appeal to the Privy Council. Thalia was a member of the legal team instructed in the case. Judgment was handed down on 27 February 2024 and can be read here. The Board decided that the appellants were entitled to standing and remitted the case back to the Caribbean courts where the case will now proceed to trial. When giving judgment the privy Council made the important pronouncement on standing in environmental cases:
‘57. Where an application for judicial review involves issues of environmental concern it is not necessary that the applicant demonstrates an expertise in the subject matter. All that is required is that they demonstrate some knowledge or concern for the subject. So an amateur ornithologist or bird-watcher might raise a concern about the potential loss of a bird’s habitat; or a fisherman about the effect of a hydro-electric scheme on fish; or a local historian about the effect on an archaeological or historical site; or a local resident on the loss of a local beauty spot frequented by the local community. In Walton Lord Hope in effect asked the rhetorical question, “Who speaks for the ospreys?”. The answer is whoever can demonstrate a genuine interest in their fate.’
