Alistair MacDonald KC

Defended allegation that the defendant, who was a Czech national, had murdered his Hungarian girl friend by strangulation. The defendant was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter.

Defended in murder in which the defendant was alleged to have stabbed victim and then trampled over his body causing broken ribs. She had then spat on him and verbally abused him. The defendant was acquitted of murder and convicted of unlawful act manslaughter. Having been sentenced, the judge, after a substantial delay, brought the defendant back to re-sentence her on the basis that he had given her excessive credit for her pre-trial offer of manslaughter. After reading extensive skeleton argument reviewing all authorities on this subject, judge left sentence unaltered.

Defended in one of first cases to raise defence of abnormality of mental functioning. The defendant had killed his 14 year old nephew in full view of the defendant’s mother.

Defended in murder of elderly man in his own home by the defendant who was a chronic alcoholic and drug user.

Prosecuted Estonian national for murder of his girlfriend. One of the first cases in which the new defence of loss of control was pleaded. Substantial evidence by video link from Estonia with much protocol to deal with in order to receive evidence. Defendant convicted.

Defended in murder in which a man was beaten to death in a chance encounter on the street. The defendant had severe mental illness and was housed at Rampton Special Hospital.

Represented the Crown in the Court of Appeal in a case in which eight members of one family were killed as a result of an arson attack on their house.

Complex issues of contamination of exhibits which were in nanogram amounts. Detailed analysis of mass spectrometry / gas liquid chromatography findings.

Defended alleged killing of baby by father. Prosecution called nine experts and defence called one expert. Jury unable to agree. Before re-trial held, prosecution offered no evidence and the defendant acquitted. Exceptionally heavy and complex medical issues.

Prosecuted double murder of ex-girlfriend of the defendant and her new boyfriend. Complex scientific issues. No direct evidence against the defendant. Defendant convicted.

Defended dental surgeon allegedly involved in joint enterprise “honour killing”. Defendant acquitted.

Prosecuted defendant for importation of very large quantities of Class A and B drugs from Belgium. The defendant had absconded when other defendants had been tried. Difficult case given that in original trial, some defendants had been convicted and one acquitted. The defendant was convicted.

Prosecuted the defendant for importation of industrial quantities of Class A drugs from Holland. Defendant convicted.

Defending male nurse charged with sexual assault on patients emerging from anaesthesia. Multiple counts. Involves complex issues about the psycho-pharmaceutical effects of anaesthetic agents. Acquitted on some counts, convicted on others. Case before Court of Appeal for determination of cross-admissibility of counts where a recognised medical phenomenon (anaesthetic-induced hallucination) may explain complainants’ experiences.

Defended male nurse charged with raping 80-year-old patient terminally ill with brain tumour. Defendant acquitted.

Defended in case in which a Chinese shipping millionaire’s son was held captive and assaulted for five days. He was tortured in the course of his abduction. A ransom demand of £1.27m ($2m) was made.

Prosecuted defendants for kidnapping and blackmail in relation to the taking of a 14-year-old boy and threats to his parents that the kidnappers would chop his arms, legs and head off should their ransom demands not be satisfied. Defendants convicted and sentenced to terms of custody of 17 and 11 years.

Defended company director on charges of multi-million pound fraudulent trading in relation to his car hire business. Case into fifth week when trial had to be aborted because of illness of the defendant. Intensely complex case involving minute detail of hire purchase transactions in London and the North-West.

The defendant was bank employee alleged to have been insider assisting other defendant to commit large-scale fraud on bank. The defendant acquitted. Co-accused convicted.

Prosecuted £2.5m fraud on VOSA. 28,000 MOT certificates were issued fraudulently. Became involved in case after irregularities at first trial. Defendants convicted.

Company director and his accountant charged with revenue fraud. Substantial issues between defendants and interpretation of taxation legislation. Defendant acquitted whereas accountant convicted.