Three defendants, the Italian nationals Michele Di Pierro and Marcello Di Pierro, and the English company International Brand Firm Ltd, were on 24 June 2021 unanimously convicted by a jury at Southwark Crown Court sitting at Prospero House, of conspiracy to defraud against Supreme and fraud by misrepresentation against the general public, in respect of […]
In January this year Chris Coltart QC and I wrote about the practical considerations when bringing private prosecutions against foreign defendants. We said that “An individual cannot be sent to the Crown Court without appearing in the Magistrates’ Court”. It turns out we were wrong, at least as far as indictable only offences were concerned. […]
Welcome to our first Private Prosecutions’ Group newsletter of 2021. Brian O’Neill QC Editor No newsletter at the start of a new year would be complete without a review of the preceding one. And whilst 2020 was truly an annus horribilis, it was not without its developments in the world of private prosecutions as Fiona […]
It is well established that private prosecutors may pursue confiscation proceedings in the Crown Court and that confiscation proceedings, as part of the sentencing process, are properly classified as part of the criminal proceedings. As such, if successful, a private prosecutor can expect to recover from central funds costs incurred in such proceedings[1], under s.17 […]
Gavin Irwin explores the report’s key recommendations On 7 July 2020, Alison Levitt QC gave evidence before the Justice Select Committee, on behalf of the Private Prosecutors’ Association, on safeguards in private prosecutions[1]. Separately, the 2 Hare Court Private Prosecutions’ Group made written representations to the Committee[2]. On 2 October 2020, the Committee published its […]