Benjamin Myers QC and Andrew Smith secure not guilty verdicts in gangland conspiracy to murder trial

November 16, 2020

Benjamin Myers QC and Andrew Smith of Exchange Chambers have secured the acquittal of AP on two charges of conspiracy to murder after a trial at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square.

The case arose out of gang warfare in Salford. The allegations related to carefully planned attacks with shotguns and machetes that were then carried out on the streets against tracked targets. AP had always accepted his part in preparation for the attacks and had pleaded guilty to offences in relation to this, but he denied any intent to kill. The jury rejected the allegation that he had planned murder and acquitted him of the conspiracy to murder charges unanimously. Four other defendants tried together with AP were acquitted of their part in the conspiracies to murder.

This high security, five-defendant trial ran for six weeks and is one of the first multi-defendant trials to have been run in the conditions required to meet the Covid-19 environment.

Benjamin and Andrew were instructed by Abigail Henry of HCB solicitors.