Michael Lavery and David Toal secure Not Guilty verdicts

February 11, 2016

Michael Lavery and David Toal from Exchange Chambers have secured not guilty verdicts on all charges following a trial at Manchester Crown Court.

The Defendants faced charges of Rape and other serious sexual offences on a 5 year old boy. This child was the natural son of the male Defendant who had previously divorced from the mother and was now in a new relationship with the female Defendant. The Prosecution case was that the Defendants had systematically abused the boy whilst he was in their care on weekend contact visits. The Defence involved the calling of a Consultant Forensic & Clinical Psychologist in order to criticise the manner of the video interviews undertaken with the child and also extensive cross-examination of the child’s mother based upon information contained in court papers from previous family proceedings which showed clear animosity from the mother to the father. At the end of the Prosecution case, Michael and David successfully argued that the Prosecution case was so flawed that the trial should go no further and Not Guilty verdicts were returned by the jury on all charges upon the direction of the trial Judge.

Michael and David were instructed by Louise Straw at Burton Copeland Solicitors in Manchester.