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John Burton Secures Acquittal of Ms NA on Serious Firearms Charges

On Friday 6th February 2009 after a three month trial at Woolwich Crown Court, John Burton, acting as a Leading Junior, secured the acquittal of Ms NA on a conspiracy to transfer firearms charge.

Ms NA was charged with four others with conspiracy to transfer firearms from Manchester to London in July/August 2007. The Prosecution alleged that her brother, a serving prisoner, had organised the transaction from prison. Two Baikal IZH-79 gas pistols, converted to fire bullets, along with silencers and ammunition were purchased in Manchester and then transferred to London. Ms NA's role was said by the Prosecution to be pivotal in the transaction. She regularly received phone calls from her brother, as well as another prisoner who used a mobile phone which had been smuggled into prison. She took a large sum of money to Manchester and handed it over to the supplier of the guns. She liaised by phone with the supplier of the guns also with the Defendant who was sent to collect the guns and with another Defendant who the Prosecution alleged was supposed to receive them. Her case was that she had not been aware that guns were involved and believed all along that the transaction involved a loan by her brother which was to be repaid. After 35 hours and 45 minutes of deliberation, the jury of 11 eventually accepted her account.

10 February 2009

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