Dean George KC in Encrochat acquittal

Dean’s client was acquitted of conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to import cocaine (between 500 and 1000kg), and conspiracy to supply cocaine at the Central Criminal Court.

Dean George KC, instructed by Karen Struckley and Lily Malone of Kalber Struckley, successfully represented the main defendant (first on the indictment) where the reliability of Encrochat evidence, and attribution evidence (in which the Crown called a number of experts), were successfully challenged.  The case involved challenging the then NCA’s main Encrochat expert (Mr Shrimpton) about the interpretation and reliability of Encrochat data, his own workings and expertise, and a second expert about cell site evidence and serious failings in it, as well as to other strands of evidence.  A substantial challenge was made based on the unreliability and inaccuracy of Encrochat material, the way it is formulated, used and sorted, and to its attribution to a handle and thereafter to a defendant.