Mark Cotter has secured the acquittal of a man charged with a murder which occurred in 2019. The case centred around the drugs world and was described by the prosecution as a planned execution in broad daylight with the use of a Glock self-loading pistol. Mark’s client was arrested and charged following recovery of data from a locked phone to which investigators had eventually gained access. The case was built on eye witnesses, CCTV, cell site, forensics, phone handset media and a vast quantity of call and text data. Another individual, suspected of being the principal, had already been convicted of the murder and this fact was also adduced at the trial. Mark led Pauline Thompson of 5 Kings Bench Walk during a three week trial at Woolwich Crown Court which ended with the jury returning verdicts of not guilty to both murder and manslaughter. Mark and Pauline were instructed by Emma Oliphant of Blackfords Solicitors.
The trial in Woolwich followed on from a trial in Cardiff where Mark appeared for the prosecution and secured a murder conviction. The case involved a stabbing which took place during a confrontation between a drug dealer and a third party who was fatally stabbed in the chest. Mark led Dan Jones, door tenant of 5 St Andrew's Hill and tenant of 30 Park Place. They were instructed by CPS Wales.
Immediately prior to that trial Mark successfully defended a man facing serious charges relating to allegations of disseminating extreme right-wing material relating to a proscribed organisation with intent to incite acts of terrorism. Following a two-week trial in Winchester Crown Court Mark’s client was acquitted of these serious charges and convicted of a single lesser offence of being in possession of a book likely to be useful to a terrorist. Mark led Danielle Barden of 5 St Andrew’s Hill. They were instructed by Bowden Jones Solicitors.
Mark specialises in cases involving the most serious and complex criminal allegations. If you wish to instruct Mark, please contact Dave Scothern, Gary Norton or Dean Cook directly here.
