Victoria Taylor secures acquittal for prison officer in assault by beating trial.

Crucible's second six pupil Victoria Taylor, secures an acquittal in her first effective magistrates trial. 

Victoria represented an experienced prison officer, who had been charged with assault by beating, following a Control & Restraint incident with a prisoner. The Crown presented CCTV and Body Worn Video footage of the incident, as well as images of the injuries allegedly caused to the prisoner. Two officers from the same prison gave evidence on behalf of the Crown, against their colleague. The Court also heard evidence from another prisoner who had witnessed the event. The Crown alleged that the force used was unlawful, as the prisoner had been walking away from the Defendant, and had his back turned. They also alleged that the level of force and duration was excessive.

Victoria cross-examined the prison officers on their lack of training in Control and Restraint, the short staffing issues in the prison, and the other incidents with prisoners which had occurred on the same day. In Examination-in-Chief, Victoria led her client through his evidence on his understanding of the principles of Control & Restraint – necessity, reasonableness, and proportionality. The Defendant explained the efforts he had made to verbally de-escalate the situation prior to engaging in Control and Restraint.

Victoria explained to the Bench that they had to decide if the force used was reasonable in the circumstances as the Defendant perceived them to be.

The Bench returned after 30 minutes to deliver a verdict of Not Guilty.

Victoria was instructed by Sam Marsh of Thompsons Solicitors.