"An exceptional advocate, highly persuasive and brilliantly incisive."
Martin Heslop KC is probably one of the most experienced practitioners at the Bar in Crime. He has defended at the highest levels; including nine years as Treasury Counsel whilst, most unusually, he maintained a very substantial defence practice which has continued in Silk.
He enjoys a high profile and diverse practice both in the UK and abroad in the Crown and Superior Courts. He is rightly regarded as one of the top Queen’s Counsel for his advocacy skills.
The vast number of his successful cases as Leading Counsel is well known and well documented.
Manchester Crown Court
Represented defendant XW who was acquitted of all charges, including murder and manslaughter, in a gangland murder trial at Manchester Crown Court. After a five week trial, all of the other three defendants were convicted of murder. Martin successfully argued to the jury that the prosecution had failed to prove whether by forensic, cell-site or CCTV evidence, that his defendant had participated in the killing and he was acquitted by the jury who convicted the other three defendants.
Preston Crown Court
Of the 13 defendants tried for the gangland murder of 18 year old rival Abdulwahab Hafidah in Moss Side Manchester, Martin secured the only acquittal after trial in the case. The remainder were convicted of murder or manslaughter in the two trials.
The Old Bailey
He successfully secured an acquittal for his 20 year old client in a murder allegation following a gang related South London stabbing. His submission of no case against his client in a six handed gangland stabbing case was accepted by the Judge and was based upon the effect of his cross examination of the prosecution witnesses which very substantially destroyed the prosecution case.
Bristol Crown Court
He successfully secured acquittals of all allegations of historic rape and sexual violence against his client. After a two and a half week trial the jury returned unanimous verdicts of not guilty in respect of multiple allegations of rape and sexual violent assaults against his ex- wife and two young step children dating back to 2000 to 2001.
Maidstone Crown Court
In a multi million pound drugs importation case involving a 2 year undercover police operation , he secured the acquittals of all defendants by his cross examination of the key prosecution witness raising major issues of disclosure, resulting in the prosecution abandoning their case.
20th Apr 2022 Read more
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28th Oct 2019 Read more
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Barrister Portfolio [10]
