Laura Stockdale secures acquittal for Iranian Kurdish asylum seeker charged with attempting to enter the UK illegally

Laura Stockdale successfully defended a man who stood trial at Harrow Crown Court on a charge of attempting to enter the UK illegally. It was agreed at trial that the Defendant had twice entered the UK illegally, first in October 2022 and second in September 2023. Following his first entry, he had claimed asylum given his fear of persecution from the Iranian state for participating in the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. 

The Defendant relied on the defence of duress. Both he and his partner gave evidence at trial that after the Defendant had first arrived in the UK, his partner attempted to join him as a surprise. Yet on her way she fell victim to people smugglers in ‘The Jungle’ in France: they held her captive and raped and sexually abused her. When the Defendant learnt of his partner’s situation, he left the UK and travelled back to The Jungle illegally. He joined her in captivity for 6 months until his family could pay the people smugglers for their release, during which time he was tortured and beaten. After the money was secured, the people smugglers forced the Defendant and his partner at gunpoint onto a boat, which was then rescued by the UK Border Force.

The Defendant was acquitted unanimously by the jury.

Laura Stockdale was instructed by Jonathan Black at BSB Solicitors.