s.18 GBH Prison Attack Acquittal Maidstone Crown Court

Maidstone Crown Court

Published: 28th September 2021

Darren Snow, instructed by Shane Parkin of Forbes Solicitors,  represented RC, a serving IPP prisoner with convictions for previous prison violence, in respect of his trial for causing grievous bodily harm to a vulnerable prisoner at HMP Swaleside in Kent.

It was alleged that the Defendant had slashed the victim’s face causing a  4 ½ laceration, cutting an artery and leaving permanent scarring, as punishment for being a convicted child killer.

The Defendant was identified by the victim as his attacker and captured on CCTV running from the scene and later changing his clothing.

In trial it became clear that further CCTV had been omitted, clothing seized not tested for forensic evidence and that timings established from CCTV capturing just before and after the attack made it impossible for the Defendant to be the attacker.

Following trial, the jury unanimously acquitted Darren’s client.

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