Michael Ivers QC of the Garden Court Chambers Criminal Defence Team represented the main defendant acquitted of all charges following an 8-week trial. Michael led Dominic Thomas at 25 Bedford Row instructed by Rose Nelson at O'Keefes.
Patrick De’Almeida died following an alleged planned robbery at and then near his address. The defendant denied the robbery and a kidnap but accepted he caused the tragic death of Mr De’Almeida and the injuries to Mr Cox, the victim of the GBH, while he had acted in self-defence following an altercation which flared following an argument. He maintained a knife had been pulled on him.
Two others faced the charge of murder, kidnap and robbery who were alleged to be secondary parties who were also acquitted following Mr Atkins successful claim of self-defence, where he also maintained the others played no part.
There were scientific issues around the pathology, blood splatter evidence and CCTV of poor quality as well as detailed cross-examination of eyewitnesses.
