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John M. Burton QC secures an acquittal in an iron bar bludgeoning murder

John M. Burton QC secured the acquittal of J who was charged with murder at the Central Criminal Court. The Prosecution alleged that J and G were drinking in the Walthamstow area of London in March 2010 and that J lured the victim to that area by making numerous phone calls to him. J met the victim at Walthamstow bus garage and took him to a quiet area where he was beaten to death by the use of an iron bar that had been removed from a burger van. A pathologist gave evidence that the victim's skull fractures were of such severity that they were similar to those a motorcyclist would suffer in a high-speed crash. J's DNA was found on the iron bar and the Prosecution alleged that this must have been deposited when he wielded the bar striking the victim.

J claimed that G had carried out the killing alone and J's DNA had got onto the iron bar because he had touched it after the killing.

After a two week trial J was acquitted of both murder and manslaughter. G pleaded guilty to murder at an earlier hearing and was given a life sentence with a minimum recommendation of 15 ½ years.

28 February 2011

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