Mary Prior KC and Samuel Skinner prosecuted a man for the habitual rape and sexual assault of the most vulnerable child over a period of four years.
The complainant has cerebral palsy and cannot speak. She makes involuntary movements. Her communication comes from shaking and nodding her head, moving her eyes to pick one of two options and making head movements to use a limited voice communication box. After significant research and planning, initial advice was provided as to the means by which the complainant might provide a visually recorded interview. Legal advice was provided through the process. The complainant was ready to disclose further offences which she had been subjected to as trust between her, the intermediary, and the police officer in the case developed. An early meeting with the complainant by Counsel assisted in building trust. Enabling the complainant to be cross-examined required all Counsel, court staff and the trial Judge working collaboratively together.
This week a jury at Northampton Crown Court convicted the defendant of rape and sexual assaults. He will be sentenced in March.
Mary Prior KC said “This case took every ounce of the experience gained over 34 years of dealing with vulnerable witnesses. It demonstrates that severely disabled people can be heard and believed in the criminal justice system. It is a privilege to have been instructed in this case with Samuel Skinner and to have been able to ensure that the complainant was able to give her best evidence. It is the skill set and ability that Samuel demonstrated in this and other cases which has caused him to be appointed as a KC.”
Mary and Samuel were instructed by CPS East Midlands. The defendant was represented with exceptional skill by Daniel Janner KC and Paul Vickers.
Further information
For more information from the crime team, contact clerks@36crime.co.uk
