Tomas McGarvey’s client acquitted of conspiracy to rob

Tomas McGarvey, instructed by Shakil Shah of Woolfe and Co, represented D before the Luton Crown Court. D was originally charged with robbery, conspiracy to kidnap, kidnap, blackmail and false imprisonment. On the first day of trial the prosecution decided to proceed in relation to a conspiracy to rob with the other alleged criminality said to be incorporated within the conspiracy to rob.

Tomas’s client was first on the indictment and said to be the organiser of a ‘honey-trap’ robbery whereby the complainant was lured to D’s property through social media. D accepted that they had in fact allowed the complainant to enter the property, accepted that their phone was used to ‘lure’ and accepted that the complainant was beaten, robbed, kidnapped and blackmailed. The key issues for the jury were a) why did D lie during the police interviews under caution, and b) was D part of a conspiracy to rob.

Following 1 hour and 20 minutes deliberation, the jury unanimously acquitted D of conspiracy to rob.