Richard Parry

Professional Experience

Richard began his career in 1987 working on the PC Blakelock murder trial at the Central Criminal Court. He qualified as a solicitor in 1994 and gained higher rights of audience in 2006.

He has worked across the whole range of criminal cases from terrorism, murder, rape and armed robberies to driving and public order offences. He also has experience in the Coroner's Court, Courts Martial and before the Parole Board.

He has been a Duty Solicitor since 1996. Richard has a particular interest and expertise in drug and protest cases. He was involved in the leading medical cannabis case R v Taylor, Quayle & others whose petition to the House of Lords being rejected is now pending before the European Court of Human Rights.

He has been involved in numerous importation and supplying cases and is increasingly involved in Confiscation hearings under the Proceeds of Crime Act and other legislation. He has been interviewed on TV and Radio on the drugs issue, and spoken at Trafalgar Square.

Richard was involved in defending many of the May Day protestors from 1999 onwards, in particular the only riot case from 1999, R v MacHale (2000). He currently assists 2 of the 5 British victims of police brutality from the G8 Summit in Genoa in 2001; the 2 trials there are expected to conclude in 2007.

If you wish to contact Richard please e-mail him at richardvp@bsblaw.co.uk

Notable Cases Include

Crown Court

• R v Braithwaite (1987) Legal assistant on 3 month trial at Central Criminal Court representing 1 of 6 charged with murder of PC Blakelock during riot on North London housing estate. One of the highest profile cases of 1980s. Lead counsel Rock Tansey QC.

• R v Taylor (2001) Snaresbrook CC. Acquittal on grounds of medical necessity as defence to possession with intent to supply 13 kilos cannabis from Switzerland. Case concerned unique service supplying cannabis to 800 patients in UK. Enquires undertaken in Switzerland (Canton of Ticino). Lead counsel James Woods QC.

• R v Williams (1998) Snaresbrook CC. Public order case arising from N30 demonstration at Euston Station. Counsel Rajiv Menon

. • R v MacHale & others(2000) Middlesex Guildhall CC. Violent disorder trial arising from May Day 2000 protests in Central London. Prosecuted by special police public order team. Ran self-defence. Only protest case to be assigned leading counsel. Ed Rees QC instructed.

• R v Teshome (2000) Murder case at Central Criminal Court involving trial and re-trial. Prosecuted by Area Murder Squad. Enquiries abroad made in Rotterdam and Leeuwarden, Holland. Lead counsel Steve Kamlish QC.

• R v Phillips (2004) Southwark CC. Acquittal following allegation of multiple assault on police at Anti-Bush demonstration in London 2003.

• R v Clifford (1997) Maidstone CC. Importation of 2 tons of cannabis - 8 defendants. Lead Counsel Paul Boateng.

• R v Jack (1999) Canterbury CC. Acquittal on importation of 90kg heroin. Defence preparation involved enquiries in Cologne, Germany. Lead counsel Phil Hackett QC.

• R v Hillman (2001) Maidstone CC. Charged with importing 100kg heroin. Prosecution dropped case after defecence enquiries in Poland and Germany. Lead counsel Henry Blaxland QC.

• R v Hartwig (2001) Canterbury CC. Charged with 20kg heroin importation. Commision Rogatoire enquiries made in Dusseldorf and Turin to establish defence of smuggling money on behalf of Kosovo Liberation Army. Case connected to 'Operazione Mustafa' in Italy investigated by Grupo Operativa Antidroga. Experts Tim Judah and Alex Standish instructed in relation to KLA activities in Europe. Lead counsel Alan Newman QC.

• R v Griesser (2004) Canterbury CC. Acquittal on importation of heroin. Defence preparation involved enquiries in Austria. High Court (Queen's Bench Division)

• Ex parte Driscoll (1989) Successful application for Judicial Review of Coroner's decision not to allow family to be represented at Inquest into police shooting of brother. Costs awarded against Coroner. Counsel Tim Owen QC.

• Olukotun-Williams v British Railways Board (1988) Civil action for damages for wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution by British Transport police. Largest ever award against BRB for such a case. Counsel Ben Emmerson.

Court Martial

• R v Souter (1995) Rape case tried in Herford, Germany. Assigned by Army Legal Services with honorary rank of Captain. Counsel Paul Boateng (now Ambassador to South Africa). Coroner's Court • Re Peter Swan(1993) Inquest at Croydon into police shooting by SO19. Representing family of deceased. Counsel Ben Emmerson QC.

• Re Tarlock Singh (1998) Newport, Isle of White. Inquest into death in HMP Parkhurst of prisoner on "suicide watch". Verdict of misadventure. Counsel Steve Kamlish QC. Court of Appeal

• R v Tuckman (2004). Test case on reviewing sentencing guidelines for cannabis following reclassification.

• R v Tuvey(2001) Appeal against sentence of 8 years for importing 2 tons of cannabis reduced to 6 years and reported. Counsel Terry Munyard.

Magistrates' Court

• R v Wood (1993) at Arbour Square secure court. Terrorism case involving 25 kilos semtex hidden on behalf of IRA. Counsel Ben Emmerson QC

• Re Koch (1999) at Bow Street. Extradition case with Germany as requesting state under Extradition Act 1989 prior to pan-european arrangements. Counsel Owen Davies QC.

• R v Lee Stevens(1997) Peterborough MC. Prison riot case arising from HMP Whitemoor, numerous defendants. Successfully argued abuse of process on grounds of delay/prejudice.

• Re Blair & McQuillan (2003) at Bow Street. Mutual Assistance to Italian Prosecutor investigating police brutality in Genoa 2001. Clients represented at 5 day hearing due to joint position as suspects and witnesses.

Parole Board

• Chigbu v Secretary of State for the Home Office(2004) Very complicated and difficult case at HMP Brixton. Written and oral submissions. Hoem Office counsel said of this case it was the "worst case" in her whole career.

The European Court of Human Rights

• Brown v UK. Application accepted (2004) in relation to medical cannabis and defence of necessity. However case delayed pending resolution of House of Lords case below. Counsel Rajiv Menon.

House of Lords

• R v Quayle Wales Kenny Taylor and Lee (2005). Assigned by Court of Appeal to act for all 5 appellants on Point of Law of General Public Importance as certified by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division). Petition awaits decision on leave to appeal. Issue is whether defence of necessity should be available to defendants charged with importing, supplying, cultivating and possessing cannabis. Junior Counsel Ben Cooper and Rajiv Menon assigned. Genoa trials (Diaz and Bolzaneto)

• Act for 2 (Blair and McQuillan) of 5 British citizens who are witnesses in 2 major trials against senior police and prison officers and other officials following police attack on Diaz school during G8 protests in 2001. Officially assigned as counsel for McQuillan. Visited Genoa twice for preliminary hearings. Counsel Gilberto Pagani (Milan) and Luisa D'Abbadaso (Rome) instructed. International Tribunal for Sierra Leone