Liam Walker specialises in criminal matters of the gravest nature. He is regularly instructed to defend clients charged with murder, attempted murder, terrorism, serious sexual offences and complex fraud. Liam acts as both leading counsel and junior counsel.
Liam has particular experience of cases where fitness to plead will be an issue. He is commended by those instructing him for his tactical acumen, thorough preparation and his ability to build a rapport with the most demanding of clients.
Liam advises and represents those facing allegations of professional misconduct before regulatory bodies including the General Medical Council. Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, The Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Football Association and the Rugby Football Union.
Homicide & Related Grave Offences
Case name: R v Burke (2012)
Offence: Attempted Murder
Description: Attempted murder by stabbing.
Case name: R v Shi Fu Ni (2011)
Offence: Attempted Murder
Description: Attempted murder by strangulation and attempted rape.
Case name: R v Karabeyaz (2011)
Offence: Manslaughter
Description: Manslaughter by kicking, retrial of manslaughter charge. (press link)
Case name: R v Karabeyaz (2010)
Offence: Murder
Description: Murder and section 18 by kicking. (press link)
Case name: R v Samuel Quamina (2010)
Offence: Murder
Description: Allegation of murder and causing grievous bodily harm by a homeowner to three intruders. (press link )
Case name: R v Lont (2009)
Offence: Murder
Description: Multi-handed murder of homeless man.
Case name: R v Leong and Others (2008)
Offence: Murder
Description: Multi-handed murder of a pensioner involving triad gangs.
Case name: R v Tate (2008)
Offence: Attempted murder
Description: Widely publicised shooting of a bystander that emanated from an attempted 'hit' of a DJ by a gang of Jamaican contract killers. A complex matter involving extensive expert testimony regarding mobile phone evidence.
Case name: R v K Malik and Others (2008)
Offence: Murder
Description: Multi-handed murder of a faith healer, which involved international investigations and complex issues of disclosure. Mr Malik was acquitted despite cut throat defences run by co-defendants. (press link)
Case name: R v Miazga (2008)
Offence: Murder
Description: Murder of two Polish brothers. The matter attracted widespread media coverage. (press link )
Case name: R v Kayani and Others (2007)
Offence: Murder
Description: Multi-handed conspiracy to commit the murder of two brothers by a rival South London gang. Heard at the Old Bailey, the trial was the longest ever murder tried at the Central Criminal Court . Prosecution halted against all defendants after the defence disclosure requests revealed witness contamination. (press link)
Terrorism
Liam is currently instructed in a post conviction appeal on a matter concerning the manufacture of improvised explosive devices.
Liam has been instructed to advise suspects of terrorism and firearms offences in advance of trial. He is able to advise lay and professional clients on the applicability of acts alleged and the admissibility of evidence under legislation including Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, Prevention of Terrorism Act, Terrorism Act 2000 & 2006. Liam is particularly valued for being able to build a rapport with the most demanding of clients.
Regulatory and Financial Crime
Liam has been instructed to appear as leading counsel, junior counsel and alone, in complex fraud matters prosecuted by agencies including the SFO and the CPS. Having studied mathematics, accountancy and statistics to degree level and worked within London's financial district, Liam's academic and practical experience provides him with the ideal platform to grasp the most complex of fraud work.
Liam retains specialist knowledge of the law of abuse of process and is often instructed to appear in cases in which applications to stay proceedings or applications to dismiss are required. Liam has also been instructed to advise those at the investigatory stage.
Liam is regularly instructed on a privately funded or direct access basis. He is frequently instructed to represent high profile clients. Previous lay clients include a former England football captain, other professional international athletes, professionals in medicine, finance, entertainment, media and company directors.
Case name: R v K (2012)
Offence: Fraud
Description: £80 million complex multi handed fraud.
Case name: R v Mpengula (2011)
Offence: Fraud
Description: Leading junior defending an allegation against an employee of Emirates airlines accused of conspiring to fraudulently provide upgrades to passengers with a travel agent. The loss to Emirates airlines was alleged to have totalled many hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Case name: R v Biryah and Others (2008)
Offence: Fraud
Description: Allegation of multi-million pound cheating of the public revenue against company director with interests in various foreign jurisdictions.
Case name: R v C and Others (2005)
Offence: Fraud; duty evasion
Description: Six handed multi-million pound conspiracy to evade duty. The matter was stayed three months into the Crown's case following lengthy and complex defence submissions concerning disclosure. This resulted in the recusal of the presiding judge and the Crown's subsequent decision to offer no evidence.
Criminal Appeals and judicial review
Liam is frequently instructed to advise on and conduct appeals at the appellant stage. Liam has in-depth knowledge of scientific evidence including blood spatter, telecommunication, computer data storage and DNA analysis, which can be applied where fresh evidence advice is required.
R v L
Citation: [2012] EWCA CRIM 316
Description: Appeal against conviction allowed following the admission of character evidence via an incorrect gateway and inadequate directions from the trial judge.
R v B & Others
Citation: 2008 EWCA Crim 238
Description: Prosecution appeal against terminatory ruling. Judge's ruling upheld, resulting in Crown offering no evidence on longest ever running murder trial at the Old Bailey.
R v F
Citation: 2007 EWCA Crim 1688
Description: Appeal against conviction allowed.
R v S A & B
Citation: Cr.App.R. 2007 2, The Times, 7th February 2007
Description: The first challenge to the Identity Cards Act 2006.
CPS Harrow v Brentford Youth Court
Citation: The Times, 8th October 2003, [2003] 9 Archbold News 1
Description: Judicial review concerning the admissibility of similar fact and background evidence in relation to the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.
Protest cases
Case name: R v Rollin and Ors (2011)
Offence: Conspiracy to commit violent disorder
Description: Mr Rollin was alleged, with 22 others, to have conspired to commit violent disorder by organising violence against a fascist group. Mr. Rollin and other protestors were said to have been anarchists intent on attacking fascists attending a 'blood and honour' concert held in Welling. Mr. Rollin was indicted first in the second trial. Despite many defendants having been convicted in the first trial and being described as a ring leader he was acquitted unanimously. (press link)
Case name: R v S A & B
Citation: Cr.App.R. 2007 2, The Times, 7th February 2007
Description: The first challenge to the Identity Cards Act 2006.
Other Criminal Offences
Case name: R v Aborlarinwa (2011)
Offence: Sexual assault and attempted kidnap
Description: Multiple counts of attempted kidnap and sexual assault against women in the South East by a defendant with psychiatric issues so severe he was deemed unfit to enter pleas.
Case name: R v Lee (2011)
Offence: Indecent assault and possession of child pornography
Description: Multiple historic counts of indecent assault against two children.
Case name: R v Faisal Rawat (2011)
Offence: Kidnapping and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent
Description: Acid attack by defendant with mental health issues on his family.
Case name: R v Passenger (2010)
Offence: Conspiracy to cultivate cannabis
Description: Largest ever cannabis cultivation ring uncovered in South Wales.
Case name: R v Slinger (2010)
Offence: Multiple rape and sexual touching
Description: 37 Counts of sexual offences including rape and sexual assault of children.
Case name: R v SM (2010)
Offence: Rape and sexual assault against a child under the age of 16
Description: Historic allegations of sexual abuse against a family member including the admission of evidence of previous similar convictions.
Case name: R v Kelly (2010)
Offence: Death by careless driving
Description: Causing the death of a cyclist by careless driving. Widespread media coverage of tragic death of father of three children (press link and link)
Case name: R v Bass (2009)
Offence: Rape and sexual assault
Description: Rape and multiple counts of sexual assault of three separate complainants.
Case name: R v Cutino (2008)
Offence: Rape
Description: Rape of mentally impaired complainant by defendant with severe learning disabilities. A test case, the matter was the first prosecution of "sexual touching of a person who was unable to refuse because of a reason relating to a mental disorder" contrary to section 30(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Case name: Vassell and Others (Operation Korab) (2007)
Offence: Section 18; Conspiracy to rob
Description: Multi-handed conspiracy to rob concerning over 18 'steamings' on London Underground trains, which involved multiple s18 GBH charges and threats to rape.
Case name: R v Anderson & Brooks (2007)
Offence: Kidnap; possession of firearms
Description: Attempted gangland execution involving kidnap, threats to kill and firearms. A particularly grave matter in which one of the defendants had been the subject of an unsuccessful contract killing, resulting in Bristol Crown Court's largest ever conspiracy to murder trial. The case was dismissed following Liam's cross examination of a ballistics expert.
Regulatory and sports related law
Liam is regularly instructed to represent those alleged to have committed professional misconduct by the regulatory bodies governing their profession. Liam is often instructed at an early stage where allegations may have formed the basis of criminal charges.
Case name: R v W (2011)
Allegation: Misconduct
Description: Doctor alleged to have conducted affairs with patients.
Case name: R v JCT (2010)
Offence: Conspiracy
Description: Heavy weight cage fighting champion charged with conspiracy.
Case name: R v R (2011)
Offence: Affray
Description: Premiership footballer charged with affray.
Case name: R v X (2011)
Offence: Failing to provide details
Description: Premiership footballer alleged to have failed to provide registration details.
Case name: R v X (2009)
Offence: Failing to provide details
Description: Former England football captain charged with failing to provide registration details.
Professional Associations
- Criminal Bar Association
- Young Fraud Lawyers Association
- Lawyers for Liberty
Other
Having represented Harlequins RFC, Bath RFC and Bristol RFC in his younger days Liam continues to play rugby, slowly, when time allows. Liam is a committed football fan who ''enjoys'' the travails of Crystal Palace FC. He discovered marathon running to distract himself from the inevitable drama of the end of each football season. He has travelled widely in pursuit of his first sporting love, surfing.
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