R V KM – Acting as lead counsel, Oliver secured the only outright acquittal in the trial surrounding the events that led to the killing of Thomas Campbell.

It was alleged that KM had participated in the activities of an organised crime group by driving the killers to Mossley, lending his van and disposing of items linked the clean-up, following the murder.

The defendant had always denied knowing of the true purpose of the drive and maintained that the items he was seen to dispose of had been from a clear-out of his house and garden.

The trial, lasting six weeks, was heard at Bolton Crown Court before Mr Justice Goose.

See press report here.

R v L – Three week trial for various terrorist offences, many committed online, including collecting and disseminating terrorist publications and encouraging terrorism.

R v A – Case alleging immigration offences. Issues as to the defendants manipulation and exploitation by others to facilitate the defendant’s entry into and stay in the UK.

R v C – The defendant was charged with money laundering and drug supply offences. The defendant put forward a ‘section 45 Modern Slavery Defence’, asserting her vulnerability and exploitation by others which involved consideration by the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) prior to trial.

R v Bibi – After an eight week trial at Leeds crown court, the Defendant was acquitted of involvement in the exploitation and trafficking of immigrant workers.

R v Iqbal – The defendant was tried and acquitted following a four-week trial, for an offence of perverting the course of justice. It was alleged that he removed a blood-soaked sofa from the scene of a double killing. [see press report]

R v G – Liverpool Crown Court. The deceased was painted white by the defendants and then murdered by the insertion of a mop handle.

R v B – Chester Crown Court. Torture Murder.

R v Gerrard – Chester Crown Court. Cutthroat defence involving the murder of the defendant’s ex-partner.

R v Thompson & others – Oliver was leading Junior in this case. This was a million pound conspiracy to defraud elderly people throughout the UK. The case against Thompson was eventually dropped at trial.

R v Chen – This involved an international fraud, co-ordinated from Portugal in which thousands of elderly home owners were persuaded to part with vast sums for needless damp proof courses. Chen’s involvement was captured on the BBC programme “Rogue Traders”. The confiscation proceedings in the Court of Appeal were successfully appealed, setting a new precedent for the assessment of pension funds. Oliver was the leading junior.

R v Webster – The defendant was alleged to have been part of a right-wing, extremist political group, who was covertly filmed, as part of a television documentary. The case involved complex issues relating to freedom of speech, and more specifically, whether the BBC is a public authority and bound by the RIPA Codes when conducting undercover surveillance.

R v X – The defendant was alleged to be part of an organised crime group that had an illegal printing press in a factory in Manchester. Much of the evidence relied upon journalists working undercover for a television documentary entitled Licence To Print Money.

R v Darshan Kaur – Leeds Crown Court. As leading junior Oliver was the only counsel to secure an acquittal in a multi-million pound money laundering case stemming from the activities of a drugs baron called Malik. The case was so vast that the number of defendants had to be split into three trials. The criminal investigation and trial process lasted for five years.

R v S – Manchester Crown Court. International cocaine conspiracy involving an agreement to import 200 kilos from the Caribbean.

R v A – Bradford Crown Court. The defendant was acquitted following a defence application to dismiss. The prosecution alleged that the defendant was part of a conspiracy to flood the Bradford area with heroin, brought up from London.

R v L – The defendant was allegedly part of an organised crime group, distributing Class A drugs throughout the North of England. Following a successful application to dismiss, the prosecution sought a Voluntary Bill, which the defence successfully opposed.

R v T – A well-known television soap star received a non-custodial sentence, following an admission that he broke someone’s jaw in an unprovoked attack.