After a 5 day trial at Snaresbrook Crown court Stephen Akinsanya successfully defends a care worker charged with Making threats to kill, Intentional strangulation, Assault occasioning actual bodily harm, Possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause violence, Threating another with a bladed article. This sensitive case involved a complainant with Downs syndrome and concerns over early stages of dementia, who had pending allegations against him.
Stephen was required to cross examine him under Section 28 (s. 28) of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act (YJCEA) 1999 (provision for vulnerable and/or intimidated witnesses in criminal cases to pre-record their cross-examination before the trial.)
The jury returned verdicts of not guilty on all counts save for the threats to kill, on which they were unable to reach a verdict and formal not guilty plea was entered by the court on the crowns request. Stephen was instructed by Alexandra Riddington of ITN solicitors.
