Crime

Nigel Mitchell has extensive experience in all aspects of criminal law and has appeared for both the defence and the prosecution in cases including murder, manslaughter, fraud and business crime, drugs importations, rape and other offences against the person.

He is regularly instructed as a leading junior and is on the Attorney General's "A" list of counsel. He is instructed by the Health and Safety Executive, the Department of Work and Pensions, Local Authorities, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and other Government bodies including the CPS.

Recent notable cases

R v Brady [2005] 1 Cr App R 5 CA. Briefed on behalf of the defence. A leading case on protection against self-incrimination. Statements obtained under compulsory questioning can be passed from one law enforcement authority to another. It was held that the DTI or the official receiver could disclose material obtained under s235 Insolvency Act 1986 to the Inland Revenue without an order of the court or notice to the person who provided it.

R v MEB Briefed by the HSE to prosecute offences concerning a death of an employee in an electricity sub-station.

R v Gaud Represented a surgeon who upon discovering he had hepatitis deceived his employers by submitting patients blood as his when asked to give samples.

R v Royal Ordnance and Manson Briefed by the HSE to prosecute offences concerning an explosion in an ordnance factory.

R v Sneath & others [2005] Briefed for the defence in a conspiracy to import large quantities of cocaine from South America. The cocaine had been turned into a liquid which was then allowed to soak into elaborate wooden doors. A chemical process was then utilised to return the cocaine to powder upon arrival in the UK. Questions of benefit under POCA are yet to be determined by the Court of Appeal.

R v Mirzayari & others [2006] Briefed for the defence in a large cocaine conspiracy centred in Dorset.

R v Gray [2007] Briefed for the defence in a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court. A case where much of the evidence was forensic in nature and the manner of putting the various pieces together would determine the outcome.