Grace Cowell represented a defendant at trial found not guilty of two counts of attempted murder and conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life. Grace was led by David Brooke KC of KBW Chambers and instructed by Janice Young of Youngs Solicitors.

The case concerned a shooting that occurred in August 2021 which involved four individuals disembarking from a vehicle and shooting at two men, before being driven away by a fifth individual. The prosecution’s case, predicated on CCTV and phone evidence, was that the incident was caused by the Defendants seeking to rob a cannabis farm. The case was opened on the basis that Grace’s client was one of the individuals in the vehicle. Due to further disclosure it was established during the trial that the Defendant was in fact not present at the scene. The prosecution’s case therefore shifted during the trial to suggest that the Defendant was a getaway driver in an alternative vehicle.

Grace’s client gave evidence over the course of three days, following which a submission of no case to answer was made on the two counts of attempted murder. The submission was successful. The jury were therefore left to consider the alternative counts of section 18 GBH and firearms offences. Grace’s client was found not guilty of all counts, unanimously.

The four other Defendants were convicted of all charges.