Recent Cases

R v M

This case involved an elderly male defendant charged with GBH with intent after initially being arrested for attempted murder.

It was alleged that he had followed a female out of the communal areas from the flats where he was residing and then stabbed her with a kitchen knife in the back; a wound which was 5 inches deep. The motivation for the attack was unclear. The victim was hospitalised but later made a full recovery.

In his defence, it was said that he had been robbed within his own flat on numerous occasions. The defendant was a heavy drinker and persons from nearby multi-occupancy flats would often force entry to his flat and steal monies from him knowing he was a vulnerable target.

On the day of this allegation, the defendant stated he had already been robbed and so picked up a kitchen knife to protect himself. He was later targeted again and two persons entered his flat and threatened him with violence unless he gave them money. They then ransacked his flat and left. He followed and attempted to secure the return of his property armed with the kitchen knife. There was a struggle and during this struggle, one of these persons, a female was stabbed.

On the day of trial the prosecution reduced the charge to one of GBH and as such the defendant entered a guilty plea. The Judge sympathised with his position and immediately released the defendant and sentenced him to a community order.