Catherine is an established practitioner acting for both prosecution and defence. Catherine has developed a busy practice dealing with a wide range of offences at all stages of proceedings, including appeals to the Court of Appeal.
Catherine has extensive experience of confiscation hearings; cases involving defendant’s suffering with serious mental health difficulties public interest immunity applications and the use of mobile telephone evidence.
Catherine has a reputation amongst colleagues and clients as a hardworking, determined and approachable barrister
Areas of Expertise
• Murder;
• Serious violence;
• Sexual offences;
• Drug offences;
• Fraud and dishonesty offences;
• Cruelty to children;
• Public order offences;
• Confiscation proceedings (Proceeds of Crime Act).
Notable Cases
• R v Bainbridge (2012) Prosecuting a female charged with perverting the course of justice after making a false allegation of serious sexual assault against a police officer.
• R v Pepper (2011) Defending a father charged with 2 counts of child cruelty relating to his own children.
• R v Farooq (2011) Prosecuting a case of supplying drugs; possession with intent to supply; and being concerned in the supply of drugs where the key prosecution evidence came from Test Purchase Officers. Issues of public interest immunity; disclosure and witness anonymity orders had to be considered.
• R v Windass (2011) Defending a multi-handed theft from employer.
• R v Beaumont (2011) Prosecuting a case where the defendant was deemed not fit to plead.
• R v Henderson (2009/2010) Defending a multi-handed conspiracy to defraud.
• R v McGhie (2009) Prosecuting a female charged with assaulting her 3 year old son and thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.
• R v Castree (2007) Junior prosecution counsel in case concerning the murder of an 11 year old child in 1975, following the wrongful conviction and successful appeal of Stefan Kiszko (V.H.C.C). A high profile case with national media coverage.
• R v Majid (2004) – Defence Junior in a multi handed violent disorder. Successful submission of no case to answer.
Seminars
Dangerousness and Bad character – July 2009
Catherine was also involved in running a Basic Advocacy Skills seminar for Junior solicitors and High Court Advocates.
Catherine is happy to present seminars on any area of criminal law.
