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Drug trial collapses over Supergrass evidence

Patrick Upward QC and Kyri Argyropoulos recently secured the acquittal of Martin Schofield on charges of conspiring to supply over 350kg of cocaine from Colombia via Spain Costa Rica, France and Jamaica.

The Crown had relied upon a self-confessed international drugs dealer Juan Evangelista Narvaez Lopez who had pointed the finger of blame on a number of men whose trials were divided into two. After Mr Schofield was unanimously acquitted in the first trial with his co-defendants Richardson and Taylor being the subject of majority acquittals the jury failed to agree on the remaining defendant Sexton. The acquittals clearly indicated that the "Supergrass" Lopez' evidence had been comprehensively undermined and the prosecution threw in their hand on the remaining defendants.

During the trial Mr Schofield's team had made extensive use of the latest computer technology not only in the preparation of the defence, but also in dealing with an experienced major criminal, whilst he gave evidence over a period of several days. The team were able to search through dozens of lever arch files of interviews and debriefs in a matter of seconds during his evidenec in order to produce documents to contradict and undermine the witness as his evidence unfolded.

For further information

• Drugs trial collapses over "supergrass" evidence - Reuters UK

21 June 2007

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