Gudrun Young KC Represents Young Woman Acquitted of Murder

SW, 19 at the time and of good character, was accused of taking part in a murder she witnessed outside the Pirate Studios in Tottenham, North London, in the early hours of 13th April last year. SW had attended the studios for a party alongside her boyfriend and some of his friends.

It appears that some tension broke out between her boyfriend’s group and another group also at the party, which included the victim, Tyler McDermott, aged 17 years. As SW, her boyfriend, and others were leaving the studios to make their way home, Tyler McDermott and an associate of his followed them onto the street. A friend of SW’s boyfriend pulled out a gun and shot Tyler McDermott at close range, before her boyfriend slashed him with a machete as he lay on the ground. The moment was caught on CCTV.

As the gun was discharged, SW played no part whatsoever and could be seen visibly reacting with shock to what had just occurred. However, despite on the face of it being nothing more than a mere bystander, she found herself charged with murder under the principle of joint enterprise, on the basis that she had been shown the gun an hour beforehand.

The prosecution subsequently alleged that she was involved in carrying the gun from an earlier party to the Pirate Studios on behalf of the gunman—an allegation that was vehemently denied.

A trial took place last year, from which her case was severed. Following a re-trial involving her and another male, both were unanimously acquitted by the jury of murder, and SW was acquitted of the possession of a firearm.

Gudrun Young KC was instructed by Hardeep Dhaliwal of Duncan Lewis Solicitors.