Victoria Taylor’s client acquitted of assaulting a police officer and drug possession.

Victoria’s client was accused of assaulting a police officer by beating, following an altercation with security staff on a night out. The officer alleged that the defendant had pushed him and jabbed him in the chest. Through Victoria’s careful cross-examination, another police officer who was present agreed that the defendant had ‘very lightly’ poked the other police officer. After less than ten minutes, the Lay Bench decided that they could not be sure that unlawful force was used by the defendant, and acquitted him.

The defendant was also acquitted of possession of a Class B drug, after a wrap of cannabis fell out of his jacket following a subsequent strip search in custody. Victoria established that the jacket had not been consistently in the custody of the defendant prior to the cannabis being found. The Bench agreed that they could not be sure that the cannabis was in his possession prior to his jacket being returned to him, and found him Not Guilty of this offence.

Victoria was instructed by Duygu Gunaydin of Stuart Miller Solicitors.