Richard Littler KC and Rachael Woods secure not guilty verdict in explosive trial

August 27, 2024

In a further trial success, Richard Littler KC (leader) and Rachael Woods from Exchange Chambers have secured a not guilty verdict for a man charged with possession of an explosive substance with intent to endanger life.

On 26 November 2020 Lancashire Police officers conducted a welfare check on Alan Murphy, 62, who was living in a campervan in Blackpool.

Murphy initially gave officers a false name, but his real identity was confirmed following a fingerprint scan.

The police system showed he was wanted after leaving an open prison nine months earlier and failing to return.

He told officers he had a gun and an improvised explosive device (IED) in his bag.

Murphy was handcuffed and moved away from the immediate area, which was evacuated to 100 metres whilst a specialist team from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service conducted tests on the contents of the bag.

Officers seized the IED, two imitation firearms, fireworks and a knife along with a prewritten note for a high street bank which outlined his demands for bank cards and a threat that he would detonate the IED if they did not comply.

He said he had become enraged after watching a Netflix documentary which claimed to expose the bank for allegedly funding terrorism and drug cartels in Mexico.

Murphy was charged with five offences including two offences of possession of an explosive substance with intent, two offences of possession of an imitation firearm and one offence of possession of a knife.

He pleaded guilty to four of the five offences at court but pleaded not guilty to the most serious charge.

Defending Murphy, Richard Littler KC argued that he never intended to put anyone’s life in danger. The jury agreed and returned a not guilty verdict.

Richard Littler KC, leading Rachael Woods from Exchange Chambers, was instructed by Mitch Sarangi at Barrett Nelligan Solicitors.