Oliver Renton, leading Alexandra Monaghan secure acquittal in case involving allegations of conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to rob.

The case involved six defendants and allegations that Oliver and Alexandra’s client, HH, had arranged, together with his brother (the first defendant), the kidnap and robbery of a former business associate with whom relations had soured.

The background to the allegation was HH transferring significant sums of money to the complainant as part of a business venture which HH expected to be returned to him. The Crown relied on significant telephone communication between HH and the complainant which demonstrated that HH believed he had been defrauded by the complainant when the money was not returned in full.

The Crown also relied on various instances of HH and his brother visiting the complainant at his home address and other venues, including on more than one occasion when the Police had been contacted by either HH or the complainant. The Crown’s case was that the brothers arranged for the kidnap and robbery of the complainant in order to secure the return of the money in its entirety.

The Crown’s evidence included a tracker placed on the complainant’s vehicle, photographs and videos shared amongst alleged conspirators and cell site.

The complainant was in fact robbed and a co-defendant pleaded guilty to this ahead of trial; a plea which went before the jury.

The case involved legal argument in respect of the complainant’s bad character involving yet to be resolved allegations of dishonesty. A defence application to rely on the bad character of the complainant resulted in the court allowing the defence to cross-examine the complainant about these allegations.

HH was the only defendant to give evidence at a trial lasting 6 weeks. He was also the only defendant to be acquitted of all counts.

Oliver and Alexandra were instructed and assisted throughout by Amy Cox of SMW.