Felicity was instructed by the Australian Centre for International Justice and led Daye Gang of the Victorian Bar You can read the JFM press release here justiceformyanmar.org/press-r…

About 5 months ago from LibertasChambers's Twitter via Publer.io

The memo set out international law and guidance places due diligence obligations on the Singapore Exchange and possible liability on the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Singapore Government for companies doing business with the Myanmar military.

About 5 months ago from LibertasChambers's Twitter via Publer.io

Justice for Myanmar issued a press release today on the latest moves in the Golden City investment scheme linked to the Myanmar military and the ETC divestment.

About 5 months ago from LibertasChambers's Twitter via Publer.io

Dr Felicity Gerry's Legal investment memo has $80million SG impact on Golden City scheme in Myanmar The legal investment memo by Dr Felicity Gerry KC has led to ETC divestment. Read more in the thread. pic.twitter.com/AuLZex7GMm

About 5 months ago from LibertasChambers's Twitter via Publer.io

Dr Felicity Gerry KC has assisted in drafting and supported a petition for a conditional pardon for 2 IPP prisoners. The petition was served on the Minister of Justice Alex Chalk MP by Dean Kingham of Rees Thomas Watson solicitors. Read more here... libertaschambers.com/media-hu… pic.twitter.com/SSACttsdTu

About 5 months ago from LibertasChambers's Twitter via Publer.io

On Friday 7 July, Dr Felicity Gerry KC mitigated on behalf of Jarrad Spence Robinson at a sentencing hearing which led to a life sentence with a minimum term of 32 years for murder by stabbing and ENCRO Chat drug dealing. You can read more here mylondon.news/news/north-lon… pic.twitter.com/lTswG3Bmh9

About 5 months ago from LibertasChambers's Twitter via Publer.io

Watch the playback via our YouTube Channel, or by the below link: libertaschambers.com/media-hu… #CriminalDefence #Webinar #Barristers #Law

About 5 months ago from LibertasChambers's Twitter via Publer.io

In our latest webinar, Dr Felicity Gerry KC and Marie Spenwyn discuss the delivery of defence openings / summary of issues, how defence statements can be framed to support a defence opening, and what is the bare minimum for opening defence issues which is fair.

About 5 months ago from LibertasChambers's Twitter via Publer.io

Rule 25.9, taken together with the overriding objective allows for a fair and concise rehearsal of the issues raised in the defence statement or alternatively for the jury to be given the defence statement.

About 5 months ago from LibertasChambers's Twitter via Publer.io

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿? A practice is growing of asking Defence Counsel to open 1 or 2 sentences after the prosecution opening in serious cases which may not be in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Rules. 🧵 libertaschambers.com/media-hu…

About 5 months ago from LibertasChambers's Twitter via Publer.io

Latest News

Art Not Evidence Campaign Dr Felicity Gerry KC is a member of the Art Not Evidence campaign mentioned in the Times Law section today. The Art Not Evidence mission is to fight for a fairer criminal justice system by advocating for a restriction on the use of creative and artistic expression as evidence in criminal trials. The group is collaborating with musicians, community groups, and human rights organisations to campaign for law reform and promote the decriminalisation of rap music and creative expression more broadly. The hope is to create a more equitable and inclusive society that respects the freedom of artistic expression for all. In broader terms Felicity has explained in our webinar on the use of rap music in criminal trials creates an unfair focus on character and culture rather than any individual contribution to a crime which risks unsafe verdicts. Read about Art Not Evidence and the open letter to the Secretary of State for Justice here https://artnotevidence.org/our-mission/ Read the Times Law article by Catherine Baksi article here https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/concern-over-use-of-drill-music-in-court-d229p00ng

Libertas Chambers

FELICITY GERRY KC JOINS WE LEVEL UP Felicity joined a coalition of lawyers, academics, psychiatrists, and organisations with significant interest in, and long experience working with, perinatal women in the criminal justice system in making a submission to the Sentencing Council consultation led by WE LEVEL UP. Question 17: ‘Do you agree with the proposed new mitigating factor and expanded explanation relating to pregnancy? If not, please provide any alternative suggestions. Answer: NO: The Level Up submission relies on a wealth of authoritative research to demonstrate that the current proposal is insufficient and there should be a new mitigating factor which specifies that pregnancy, maternity, and the postnatal period is relevant to the sentencing of a female defendant convicted of any crime, and that an associated explanation should be included in all sentencing remarks. The submission makes alternative suggestions including additional measures should also be introduced to avoid custody where a pregnant woman’s sentence is over the custody threshold, or she is facing a mandatory minimum sentence. In practical terms, this means: Where a woman is on the cusp of custody, a non-custodial sentence must be considered. Where a woman is over the custody threshold and facing a custodial sentence of up to 2 years, a suspended sentence must be considered based on the significant harm custody or separation causes to pregnant and postnatal women and their dependants. Where a woman is facing a sentence of over two years, or a mandatory minimum sentence, pregnancy, and the postnatal period to constitute an ‘exceptional circumstance’ that makes the imposition of the minimum term a disproportionate sentence and would justify not imposing the statutory minimum sentence. This approach gives due weight to the significant harm caused by custody to the pregnant woman, her unborn child and a baby who may be born in prison. It also prioritises the best interests of the child over separation and fits with the Ministry of Justice Female Offender Strategy which identifies that “custody is particularly damaging for women” and that many female offenders could be more successfully supported in the community, where reoffending outcomes are better. The impact of custody on a woman who is pregnant is very likely to cause significant harm to the physical and mental health of both the mother and the child. Without a full medical and social picture of the pregnant or postnatal woman, there is a significant risk that sentencers will be unwittingly sentencing a mother to a stillbirth, a baby to death or other serious complications, or an infant to developmental trauma. and the sentencer should give reasons for all sentences of pregnant or postnatal women addressing the known research and data. Download the submission by clicking this link Find out more about Level Up here https://www.welevelup.org/

Libertas Chambers

Dr Felicity Gerry KC in Daily Mirror on campaign to exonerate Christine Keeler Dr Felicity Gerry KC appears in the Daily Mirror on the campaign to exonerate Christine Keeler. The campaign for the posthumous exoneration of Christine Keeler was covered for 3 days in The Mirror. The campaign is being brought by her son Seymour Platt who was left the task of telling her real story in her will. Dr Gerry KC explains: “At the height of the “Profumo Scandal” Christine was the victim of a violent assault by a man called Lucky Gordon. He was prosecuted, but sacked his lawyers and represented himself. In cross examination of her, he admitted assaulting her. She told the police she had not mentioned two other witnesses because they asked her not to. on the suggestion that she had lied about about who was present, Gordon’s conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal and she was prosecuted for perjury. She pleaded guilty and was sent to prison. “She was under terrible pressure. For example, news reports account members of the public throwing eggs at her when she attended the Old Bailey in Stephen Ward’s trial where she was also infamously accused of being a sex worker. Ward took his life before verdicts on whether it could be proved he was living on her “immoral” earnings. Most people now accept this was a travesty of justice. It certainly framed her appallingly for the rest of her life, as Seymour Platt has explained in the Mirror. “The law on the charges Christine faced (despite being a victim) only applies if there is a “material lie”. That Christine did not state that two other men were present when she was violently assaulted was totally irrelevant, especially as a proper investigation would have revealed they saw the attack and supported her account and because her attacker admitted in court he assaulted her. “The Criminal Cases Review Commission is now quite properly investigating the case. The implications of the comments her barrister Jeremy Hutchinson QC made at the time make it obvious she pleaded guilty when she was not, and she was appallingly shamed, unlike others whose reputation has been restored. “There is a real risk that she was wrongly convicted by her own plea on an incorrect application of law on credit / lies. Sending her to prison was dreadful and she rightly deserves a posthumous exoneration. It would also go a long way to reframing a case that is the epitome of slut shaming and has had lasting implications for all women being improperly framed as liars, fitting with modern CPS guidance on violence against women and girls” You can read more here https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/profumo-sex-scandal-icon-christine-31477770

Libertas Chambers

Latest Insights

Chambers Article: Rule 25.9(2)(c): Defence Statements and ‘openings’ Traditionally in England and Wales the defence may give an opening address at the start of the defence case, but only where evidence is to be called other than from the accused person. In many cases this means that the issues are not identified clearly until a late stage and in long cases there can be an advantage to the prosecution to dominate the trial issues. In a recent webinar we discussed this topic of delivery of defence openings / summary of issues and how defence statements can be framed to support a defence opening. This article is a summary of the key provisions discussed. Click below to read in full. Download Article now To stay up to date with insight articles, webinars and chamber news why not subscribe to Libertas Lens (our periodic newsletter) – Click here to register

Libertas Chambers

Chambers Article: The ‘Fediverse’ vs P2P: The next generation of digital forensics The courts of England and Wales may still be dealing with the many EncroChat-related prosecutions, but technology has already moved on. While many are focused on AI and its potential for misuse, what some overlook are the networks on which these platforms operate. You may never have heard of the ‘fediverse’ but, if you practise criminal law, you should understand the basics, says Benjamin Knight. Click below to read in full. Download Article now To stay up to date with insight articles, webinars and chamber news why not subscribe to Libertas Lens (our periodic newsletter) – Click here to register