Alex Leach KC

• R v Elias Morgan – Leading a three counsel prosecution team in a case involving a firearms execution in retaliation for the conduct of a prison officer in the course of his duty. The case relied upon the largest investigation ever conducted by Lancashire Constabulary and involved a highly complex combination of expert evidence, including the ground breaking use of material obtained pursuant to Crime (Overseas Production Orders) Act 2019 and the Interaction C database to trace previously undetected iPhone usage. The case also relied upon contested GSR, vehicle identification, facial recognition, body mapping, DNA, vehicle telematics and copious CCTV evidence. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9d0d63pnw2o

• R v A,B and C – Prosecution of a multi-handed murder involving children. The case relied upon an enormous volume of communication over social media, which led to the stabbing of a schoolboy. The case demanded a high degree of sensitivity in its presentation, owing to the involvement of child defendants. Considerable, additional adjustment was required during the cross-examination of one defendant who, in addition to his young age, required the assistance of an intermediary. The case also relied upon the dissection of intricate and highly challenging CCTV footage. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly7nqp1glzo

• R v Neil Speakman – Leading defence counsel acting for a farmer charged with the gross negligence manslaughter of his 3 year old son, whom he crushed with a telehandler. The case was hugely emotive and relied upon complex collision reconstruction evidence. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwywx42q39po

• R v Philip Waugh – Leading prosecution counsel, acting for the Serious Economic Organised Crime International Division (SEOCID) in a case involving the importation and transfer of military grade weapons, including AK47 rifles, Uzi and Skorpion machine guns. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyv6553590eo

• R v Zada and others – Leading prosecution counsel, acting for SEOCID, in a series of people trafficking conspiracies. The investigation arose out of cooperation conducted between Dutch, French and UK law enforcement and involved an agreement to load Vietnamese children onto a refrigerated lorry, to allow their travel from Holland into the UK. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/30984424/migrant-smuggling-gang-mohammed-zada-neighbours/

• R v Jieh Sufyaan – Leading defence counsel in a firearms conspiracy to murder a child. JS occupied the leading role in the organised shooting of a child, conducted by a motorcyclist and pillion passenger. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-68406492

• R v Munawar Hussain – Leading prosecution counsel in a case (investigated by Counter Terror Policing North West and prosecuted by Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division CPS) in which the defendant attempted to murder the store manager and a customer of a Marks and Spencer shop in Burnley, claiming hatred of Israel as his motivation. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c990l7dlg8do

• R v A, B, D & C – Prosecution counsel, instructed in the leading Operation Venetic case, in which evidence acquired by international law enforcement, from the encrypted EncroChat network was relied upon. The investigation was described by the Home Secretary as “a game changing moment in our fight to tackle serious and organised crime”. Legal argument concerning the application of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA) led to a ruling by the Lord Chief Justice that broke new ground when considering the scope of IPA. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6pydlzlj10o

• R v Jonathan Gordon – Prosecution counsel, acting for SEOCID, instructed in a case that arose out of an NCA investigation into a hitman, engaged by those involved in serious organised crime, to conduct acid attacks and shootings in Merseyside. The case relied upon data recovered from the EncroChat network.
  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10860181/Gangland-enforcer-charged-6-000-attack-victims-acid-10-000-blind-them.html

• R v Andrianarisoa – Leading counsel acting for SEOCID, prosecuting the former Chief of Staff to the President of Madagascar, for soliciting bribes from a world leading gem mining company, in return for access to the country’s gem mining rights. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/madagascar-presidents-former-aide-jailed-offering-mining-licence-bribes-2024-05-10/

• R v R and others – Leading counsel in a ten-week, multi-handed fraudulent trading prosecution for SEOCID, concerning the operation of London and Dubai based defendants alleged to be involved in the operation of a boiler room targeting investors as part of a ponzi scheme.

• R v B,B,F and others – Leading prosecution counsel in a 10 handed, joint HMRC and Insolvency Service prosecution. The case involves allegations that defendants constructed a complex network of businesses, with the sole intention of conducting a wholesale exploitation of the VAT regime.

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