Chris Paxton has developed a specialist criminal practice in which he both prosecutes and defends and has done so in the role as either a leading junior or a led junior.
He has undertaken work on behalf of various Crown Prosecution Service areas, the Department of Works and Pensions and local authorities. With a background in sales and marketing, he has particular experience in Trading Standards work ranging from copyright to food safety.
In Defence, he is instructed by solicitors in the South East and, particularly, in Essex, and has been involved in work that requires particular sensitivity and client care.
Cases cover the full range of criminal law but in the last four years his work has particularly involved trials in cases of murder, manslaughter, serious sexual offences (many of which are historic and span many decades), fraud, confiscation proceedings, complex fatal road deaths and major drug operations.
Examples of recent first instance casework:
R v A, C and others (2008)- Prosecution Junior Counsel. False imprisonment/ firearms offences.
R v Benstead and others (2008) Murder – Prosecution Junior Counsel.
R v Akakpo and others (2008) Conspiring to Supply Class A Drugs – Leading Defence Junior in a substantial multi-handed conspiracy to supply class A drugs in the Ipswich area.
R v Warren (2008) Rape – Prosecuting Counsel. Historic rape/sexual offences that occurred in the 1970s.
R v Olgun and Kibble (2008) Death by Dangerous Driving – Leading prosecution counsel in a multi-fatality case which attracted significant media interest. The case involved many complex aspects of road traffic accident reconstruction and other issues.
R v Campbell and Others (2008) Violent Disorder/Attempted Murder – Defence Counsel in a case which involved an alleged gangland shooting in Letchworth.
R v Coombes (2008) Death by Dangerous Driving – Defence Counsel.
R v Forte (2008) Rape – Defence Counsel. Relatively historic allegations.
R v Brady (2008) Attempted Murder – Leading Prosecution Counsel.
R v Van Limborgh (2008) Drug Importation – Defence Counsel in an alleged £5 million heroin importation.
R v Griffin (2007) – Prosecution (Junior counsel). This was a joint prosecution between the Crown and the Health and Safety Executive and involved the death of a workman whilst at his place of work. Accordingly, the case involved allegations of manslaughter and breaches of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974. Issues of law arose as regards gross negligence and the employer’s duty of care towards a co-worker. There was also complex scientific evidence relating to work practices in confined spaces, and the use of explosimeters.
R v Morris (2007) – Prosecution Counsel. Historical allegations of serious sexual abuse. Legal issues including third party disclosure, abuse of process and Section 41 matters.
R v Bull (2007) – Prosecution Leading Counsel in case involving allegations of serious sexual misconduct against an osteopath.
R v Vella (2007) Blackmail – Prosecution Junior Counsel.
R v Makanda (2007) – Defence Counsel. Substantial Benefit Fraud.
R v Sweeney (2007) Murder –Prosecution Junior Counsel
R v King (2006) – Defence. Leading Counsel in a substantial case that involved the management of five brothels with 12 defendants. Confiscation proceedings of £1.5 million followed.
R v Youell (2006) – Prosecution (Junior Counsel) of four defendants in a £2 million tax and VAT fraud in the construction industry. The case involved difficult issues of general tax and VAT law and those specific to the construction industry as well as issues of forensic accountancy/audit trails.
R v Caesar (2006) – Defence. The case involved police corruption where information was said to be passed to well-known criminal gangs in and around the Thames Valley area. The case required a thorough understanding and knowledge of professional police standards.
R v Leheup (2006) – Defence Counsel. Confiscation proceedings with a value of £500,000.
R v Barber Riley (2006) – Junior Defence Counsel in case involving allegations of theft from company. This case involved detailed consideration of forensic accounting methods.
R v Bennett (2006) Murder – Defence Junior Counsel
R v Allen (2006) Murder – Prosecution Junior Counsel
R v Lawson (2006) Manslaughter – Prosecution Junior Counsel
R v Smith (2006) Causing death of 4 children whilst driving when unfit through drugs – Prosecution Junior Counsel. High profile and sensitive case involving complex scientific issues of psychopharmacology.
R v Johnson (2006) – Defence Counsel. Rape and other sexual offences committed against employee.
R v Willard (2005) Indecent Assault – Defence Counsel in a multi-complainant case.
R v Waterman (2005) Death by Dangerous Driving – Prosecution Counsel. Road rage incident in which defendant used his vehicle to ram another vehicle off the road resulting in the death of the baby passenger.
R v Alvin and others (2005) Murder - Junior Defence Counsel. Gangland execution following a history of drug trafficking. Defence submissions resulted in the prosecution offering no evidence and the defendant became the principal witness for the Crown.
R v Mayo and Bailey (2004) Murder – Junior Defence Counsel. Mobile phone knife-point robbery resulting in the death of the victim. Considerable legal argument over the issue of principal and secondary party.
