Skip to main content
15NBS Chambers

Brian St. Louis QC and Dominic Benthall secure acquittals on charges of murder and conspiracy to murder

By November 5, 2019No Comments

Brian St. Louis QC and Dominic Benthall acted for Gwyn Griffiths in the trial of R v. Paul Cannon, Gwyn Griffiths and Angela Taylor before HHJ Kay QC at St. Albans Crown Court, which concluded on 4th November 2019.

The deceased, William ‘Bill’ Taylor, disappeared from his home, Harkness Hall, Herts overnight on 3rd June 2018. His body was subsequently discovered, partly submerged, in the River Hiz on 11th February 2019.

The prosecution’s case was that Angela Taylor (his wife) had murdered her husband with the help of her lover, Paul Cannon, and his workmate Gwyn Griffiths.

All three faced an alternative allegation of conspiracy to murder, namely that they had been plotting to bring about the murder of Bill Taylor for four months before it had happened.

Mr Griffiths’ defence was alibi. He had always accepted that he had been some 11 miles away from Harkness Hall on the night of Bill Taylor’s disappearance, though at a hotel celebrating his stepson’s wedding. Further, that at no time had he conspired with anyone to murder Bill Taylor.

Following Mr Griffiths’ evidence in his own defence and before the calling of any alibi witnesses, the jury returned a not guilty verdict by direction of the Judge. At the end of the trial, the jury unanimously acquitted him on the alternative count of conspiracy to murder.

Mr Cannon and Mrs Taylor were convicted of the murder of Bill Taylor.

Brian St. Louis QC and Dominic Benthall were instructed by Mony Lam, of Lam & Meerabux solicitors.

Press coverage:

BBC

ITV