The prosecution of three men for murder and attempted murder, branded as “flawed right from the very beginning”, has been dropped after the prosecution offered no evidence.
The case has been reported by the BBC, The Daily Mail and the Islington Gazette.
The defendants were charged with the murder of Joseph Burke-Monerville who was shot in a gang-related shooting in February 2013. The Crown’s case collapsed after it transpired that it relied on the evidence of a single witness.
James Scobie QC of Garden Court Chambers was representing one of the defendants, Scott Andrews. Mr Scobie argued that the material about the sole witness, which was disclosed at the last moment, revealed that the prosecution case was “flawed right from the very beginning” and “bound to fail”. Addressing the judge, he added:
“The very fact the Crown at the last moment do not even begin to explain to your ladyship – not least for the victim’s family and those who survived this horrendous attack – is quite and utterly disgraceful.”
“This prosecution should never have taken place. The very fact that the Crown do not come clean and accept responsibility for this flawed prosecution brings our system down, quite frankly.”
James Scobie QC a member of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team. He was instructed by Montague Ledgisters Solicitors.
