Tomas McGarvey secures acquittal in attempted murder case

Tomas McGarvey, instructed by Susanta Kumar Banerjee of SKB Legal, successfully defended a teenager charged with the attempted murder of another teenager. 

The charge related to a dispute between Tomas’s client and a friend, which led to Tomas’s client using a Rambo style knife to stab the complainant twice, once in the arm, and once in the centre of the chest. Initially, Tomas’s client denied presence and involvement in the incident, however, following further disclosure of evidence the defendant accepted involvement and entered a guilty plea to section 18 GBH with intent, accepting an intention to cause serious harm but disputing an intention to kill. The medical evidence in the case was such that the complainant came perilously close to death due to the severe nature of the injuries.

Following a 3-day trial at Luton Crown Court before HHJ Hunter KC, Tomas’s client was unanimously acquitted of attempted murder. 

On a later date, the defendant was sentenced in relation to this case, a further case of violent disorder involving the use of a machete, and a case involving possession of a bladed article. The sentencing exercise was complex due to the fact the defendant was a different age on each occasion and had passed the age of 18 by the time of sentence. The defendant also suffered from various mental health disorders including ASD and ADHD, and, accordingly, Tomas relied upon expert medical evidence in mitigation. 

The defendant was sentenced to a 5-year prison sentence with an extended license period of 2 years.