Laura Stockdale’s client found not guilty of rape and domestic violence offences

Laura Stockdale successfully defended a man who stood trial on charges of rape, coercive control and multiple physical assaults against his former partner. The Crown’s case was that the Defendant had inflicted physical, emotional and financial abuse against his former partner over several months, before committing an act of rape one evening at their home, which then prompted the Complainant to report the abuse to police. 

The Defendant denied all allegations, including that any sexual activity with the Complainant had taken place on the day of the alleged rape. The Defence case was that there had been no opportunity for any sexual activity to take place that day, as their 5 year old daughter and the Complainant’s sister were both at home, and that the Complainant had made a false complaint in order to obtain independent accommodation after the Defendant’s infidelity towards her. 

At trial, Ms Stockdale criticised various aspects of the police’s investigation, including the failure to take a statement from the Complainant’s sister. She also undertook a careful cross-examination of the Complainant to avoid any application by the Crown to adduce the Defendant’s bad character. The trial also involved review of large amounts of material (including prison phone calls) disclosed the day before trial, as well as Ring Doorbell camera footage adduced by the Defence. At the conclusion of a six-day trial at Kingston Crown Court, the jury returned unanimous verdict of not guilty on all counts in less than 2 hours.

Laura Stockdale was instructed by Somsul Hoque of ABV Solicitors.