Peter Byrne has over 20 years’ experience of conducting criminal cases before the courts, including the Court of Appeal, ranging from motoring offences to murder. He has a relaxed and approachable style but with an attention for detail from his involvement in serious and complex criminal cases.
Crime
Peter is instructed in the following criminal areas: Murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, rape and serious sexual offences, non fatal serious violence, money laundering, robbery and cases involving the importation, production and supply of drugs. Peter has experience of defending and prosecuting in cases where there are arguments regarding fitness to plead and Mental Health Act disposals.
Fraud: Missing trader, asset stripping, fraudulent trading, VAT and mortgage fraud.
Notable Cases
- Hesketh [2006] EWCA Crim 2596
Appeal regarding the making of a Confiscation Order and the admission of fresh evidence.
- Khan & Others (2007)
Large scale ‘inside man’ Building Society fraud.
- Straughan (2007)
£50m fraudulent trading.
- Bham & Others (2008)
Twelve-defendant insurance fraud.
- Marley (2009)
Allegations of murder and attempted murder of a previous girlfriend tried together.
- Mitchell & Others (2010)
£11.3m VAT fraud.
- Foster (2010)
Allegation of damaging property being reckless as to whether life was endangered following a domestic gas explosion. Significant issues of causation and specialist expert evidence.
- Hewison & Others (2011)
Nine defendant multi million pound mortgage fraud representing the defendant described by the Prosecutor as ‘the thread that ran through the fraud’.
- Richardson & Others (2011)
Five-defendant joint enterprise murder.
- Broadhead & Others (2012)
Allegation of handling HGV trailer and contents stolen from high security depot.
Regulatory
Defended in prosecutions by the Environment Agency, Trading Standards, DTI, the Post Office, OFCOM, VOSA. Defended and prosecuted in HMRC cases. Appeared for the prosecution in Health and Safety Act proceedings.
Inquests
Recent experience involving complex medical issues of causation and the examination of a Home Office Pathologist.
Motoring
Defence of motorists in Magistrates’ Courts and on appeal to the Crown Court and specialist advice designed to limit the effect of motoring convictions and the avoidance of disqualification.