Helen McCormack

1986

Helen prosecutes and defends and has broad experience in all areas of criminal law. Helen's practice is predominantly serious sexual and violent offences. She has prosecuted as both leading and junior counsel in substantial trials including rape and indecent assault of both adults and children, false imprisonment, kidnap, firearms, arson and fraud.

She has prosecuted in fraud cases involving conspiracies by bank and building society employees to steal from these institutions. She has been instructed as junior counsel for the Crown in a trial which involved allegations of money laundering and mortgage fraud.

Helen represented a notorious cat-burglar who was arrested trying to sell a stolen Picasso painting to an undercover police officer.

She was instructed as junior counsel in a trial involving the supply of sub-machine guns to the criminal underworld.

Helen is also a Military Court advocate and practices courts-martial work in this country and abroad.

Recent Cases

R v S Instructed as leading counsel for the Crown. Two complainants, one abducted from the street in South London, were threatened with a knife and gun, before being sexually assaulted by two men. The second complainant, a girl of 16, was raped at gunpoint by two men at the same address to which the first victim had been taken. Allegations of interference with witnesses by a defendant while in custody. Serious witness protection and PII issues. Difficult legal arguments re joinder/severance and similar fact evidence. Witnesses were given appropriate protection and the defendant was convicted on all counts.

R v W Instructed in the prosecution of a defendant facing allegations of money laundering, mortgage fraud and other offences of dishonesty. Substantial quantities of exhibits had to be reduced to admissions and schedules to make the case comprehensible to the jury.

R v C Instructed by the Crown to prosecute a care worker accused of having sexual intercourse with a severely mentally handicapped woman, incapable of giving consent. The victim was so seriously handicapped she was incapable of providing any evidence. The case was successfully prosecuted relying on forensic and medical evidence.

R v B The defendant, an elderly homeless man, was charged with grooming young girls over the internet and inciting them to engage in sexual activity. He posed as a teenage boy and used computer facilities provided free at public libraries to commit the offences.

R v H The prosecution of a police inspector charged with a string of offences of handling stolen goods, often using E-bay as an outlet for the stolen property.