Fiona McAddy obtains second set of acquittals in the murder retrial of the Waterloo Three

Following a 5 week retrial at the Old Bailey, Fiona McAddy, led by Kerim Fuad KC, secured the acquittal of the first defendant, PY on all counts.  The defendant, his brother and a friend were charged with murder and manslaughter following a violent altercation near Waterloo Station which resulted in the first defendant stabbing the deceased in the back three times. 

The case had been previously tried in 2023 and the jury had acquitted all defendants on all counts.  A short time after the return of those not guilty verdicts and the discharge of the jury and defendants, the foreman indicated that a mistake had been made in the verdicts.  The defendants were taken back into custody, and the jury were reconvened to continue their deliberations.  They ultimately could not reach verdicts on the counts of murder or manslaughter, although they did acquit PY of a count of having an article with a blade or knife.  They were discharged and no verdicts were recorded on the main counts and the defendants were remanded in custody.

Applications were made to the High Court for a writ of habeas corpus and for leave to apply judicial review to secure the release of the defendants and protracted legal argument followed, both in the High Court and before the Central Criminal Court and the defendants were eventually granted bail. 

A retrial eventually commenced on 4 December 2024.  The second jury deliberated for only 55 minutes before acquitting all three defendants on all counts, for the second time.

Fiona was instructed by Deborah Spence of Spence and Joseph Solicitors.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2kyr8nkl1o

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/waterloo-old-bailey-london-hmp-belmarsh-b2679519.html