Recent notable cases include:

R v R & Ors. – Trial. Multi-handed murder by starvation and will fraud (Jonathan’s client), alone against three teams of silks and juniors; one for prosecution and two cut-throat defence, twelve week trial, High Court Judge;

R v G – Trial. 3 handed murder, death by stamping, together with Daniel Janner KC. Defendant acquitted of murder, convicted of manslaughter ;

R v M – Trial. Defendant acquitted following 7 week, 5 handed trial of multi-million pound cigarette smuggling fraud;

R v L – Following the imposition of a discretionary life sentence for attempted murder, Jonathan drafted two questions for the consideration of the Supreme Court concerning the dichotomy between the length of sentences to be served before first applications for parole for discretionary life sentences and extended sentences. Permission to take the questions to the Supreme Court was refused, but the law was changed within months of the case being heard in the Court of Appeal;

R v M – Trial. 2 handed attempted murder, stabbing to heart, complex medical evidence. Defendant acquitted of attempted murder;

R v A – Trial. 2 handed stranger rape of student on city centre street. Defendant acquitted;

R v B – Trial. Attempted murder, stabbing to throat as the Defendant shouted, “I’ll do time for murdering you !” Defendant acquitted of attempted murder;

R v W – Trial. Rape outside nightclub, late return. Defendant acquitted;

R v A – Trial. 2 handed wilful neglect of client’s very elderly mother with dementia and malnutrition who subsequently died. Defendant acquitted;

R v T – Plea. Repeated rape of daughter between ages of 4-7. Strong advice to defendant to plead guilty contrary to defendant’s initial instructions. Advice accepted resulting in a much lower sentence ;

R v W – Trial. 10 handed county lines class A drug supply prosecuted by the Complex Casework Unit of the CPS. Defendant convicted;

R v B – Trial. Chronically ill elderly defendant charged with historical sex offences in school master role. Defendant acquitted;

R v M – Trial. 4 handed Serious Organised Crime Unit county lines conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Defendant convicted;

R v D – Plea. Defendant care worker charged with injuring 3 extremely old and frail patients during one night shift in care home. Eventual guilty plea to a lesser offence and a non-custodial sentence;

R v M – Trial. Aggravated burglary/armed robbery of drug dealer. Defendant acquitted;

R v H – Trial and plea. Possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs. Defendant pleaded guilty to one count, was acquitted of another and was convicted of a third;

R v S – Very late plea. People trafficking. Defendant sentenced to a non-immediate custodial sentence following mitigation.

Past notable cases:

R v. F – Jonathan drafted a Question for Certification for the House of Lords (as it then was) involving the structure of rape indictments.

• Harmsworth Scholarship, Middle Temple
• President of Middle Temple Students’ Association