Benjamin Myers QC successfully defends music teacher charged with rape

June 10, 2015

Benjamin Myers QC from Exchange Chambers defended ex-Head of Strings at the Royal Northern College of Music and music teacher, Malcolm Layfield, who was tried at Crown Square, Manchester for an allegation of rape.

Mr. Layfield was a teacher at Chetham’s School of Music and also at the Royal Northern College of Music before becoming Head of Strings at the College.  He was alleged to have raped an eighteen-year old student thirty years ago.  He admitted having had an affair with the student but denied rape.  At the conclusion of the week-long trial the jury found him not guilty unanimously.

Ben specialises in serious crime. He is instructed consistently in substantial and complex cases of murder, manslaughter, high value fraud, money laundering, multi-million pound confiscation under POCA, drug trafficking, national and international organised crime, rape, historic sexual abuse and armed robbery. He has a wide experience of appellate matters. Ben’s knowledge of law and procedure relating to disclosure and abuse of process is extensive. His expertise in the field of human rights and criminal law is a feature of his practice, both in court and in an advisory capacity. Ben is experienced in public law and is instructed in judicial review proceedings in the fields of both criminal and regulatory law.

Ben is a member of the criminal team at Exchange Chambers.