Powell Spencer & Partners

09/05/2025

We are hiring full time Criminal Duty Solicitors! We are also always keen to hear from family and criminal consultant solicitors. Please email CVs in confidence to [email protected]

02/09/2021

Lucie Wibberley of the Garden Court Chambers Criminal Defence Team represented the defendant, instructed by Sandra Riordan of PSP Solicitors.

04/08/2021

Minka Braun and Lucie Wibberly, both of the Garden Court Crime Team, represented defendants alleged to have carried out a retaliatory gangland shooting. Both were acquitted after trial.

02/08/2021

Congratulations to Saloud Zaman our Costs Lawyer, following his appointment by the Lord Chancellor to the Legal Aid Agency’s Review Panel. Saloud also heads Powell Spencer's internal and external costing department.

13/07/2021

Double murder victory by Sinead Zaman of Powell Spencer and Ali Bajwa QC of Garden Court Chambers.

Sinead Zaman, Ali Naseem Bajwa QC, leading Eva Niculiu of Three Raymond Buildings, represented BR at the relevant time an 18-year old boy, in a three-defendant double murder trial at the Old Bailey.

The case concerned a dispute between two drug dealers, B and P Shortly after 20:00 on 19 December 2019, B drove his van into Courtland Avenue in Barnet, where P and an associate F were waiting for him. B had with him four people: K in the front passenger seat and three 18-year-olds (including BR) in the back.

Within 3 or 4 minutes of B’s van arriving in Courtland Avenue, F and P were dead; F had been stabbed 14 times and P 28 times. F body was bundled into the boot of P's vehicle and driven away by T. Very shortly thereafter, P's body was bundled into the van and driven away by B and the three 18-year-olds.

T was forced to stop his car in order to seek medical help for a serious wound to his arm, whereupon the police discovered F’s body in the boot. Meanwhile, the occupants of the van dumped Paja’s body in undergrowth beside a country lane, where a jogger found it the next day. BR’ DNA was recovered from a cable tie binding P’s wrists and BR's baseball cap heavily stained with P’s blood was found close to the body.

The Crown’s case was that B, T, and BR had planned and committed the murders together acting as a team. B and T blamed BR and the other two 18-year-olds. The case advanced on behalf of BR was that B and T alone had committed the murders.

BR case involved the careful analysis and reconstruction of events using the circumstantial evidence, including that of eyewitnesses, DNA, pathology, CCTV/ANPR cameras, and mobile phone usage/movement.

After an eight-week trial and a day of deliberations, the jury unanimously convicted T and B of both murders and acquitted BR of all charges.

The case was reported by the Times and the BBC.

12/07/2021

Knife Crime Prevention Orders: punishment without conviction?

Under pressure to reduce knife crime the government have introduced tough new powers, initially only in London, to target those people they believe are carrying knives.

Applications will be made when the police do not have enough evidence to prosecute a person for carrying knives in public but have some information, often hearsay, that they might be doing so. Knife Crime Prevention Orders carry forced requirements that are similar to punishments for those convicted of crimes. They may ban someone from using social media, entering a neighbouring postcode, or meeting with friends. Orders could include night time curfews or forced education.

Failure to follow the order’s requirements is a criminal offence for which a person can be imprisoned for up to 2 years. Finally, those subject to an order are forced to go on a register and must report their personal details to a police station; this process mirrors the infamous S*x Offenders’ Register. Not complying with the register requirements is also a criminal offence with a maximum sentence of 2 years imprisonment.

The above provisions provide the police with considerable power to adversely affect peoples’ lives. These powers are normally justified after someone has been convicted of an offence and form part of their punishment. Under these proposals a person subject to an order will not have been convicted of a crime and by their very nature, these cases involved weaker allegations; if the evidence was strong the person would be prosecuted.

Controversially the police can obtain and interim Knife Crime Prevention Order without notice to the defendant. This means they can go to court in secret to obtain an order without allowing a defendant to respond with evidence.

The Home Secretary’s announcement of these powers highlighted how they will be used on children as young as 12 years old and it is clear they will be often used on children and young adults. Parents and guardians therefore have an important role in helping them access their rights and to have a voice in the proceedings.

Those subject to an order will no doubt be entered onto policing databases. Though not a criminal conviction this is still a record which is available to the police to disclose in Enhanced DBS checks. For a minority of people, it might affect future employment and migration to certain countries such as the USA.

Legal aid is available to defend these applications and those affected should contact us for help and representation at court. We will challenge evidence on your behalf, we will cross examine officer and help you build a strong defence case if you feel unfairly treated.

Mark Troman
08/07/2021

14/04/2021

Powell Spencer Client acquitted following 3 month Covid trial, represented by Sinead Zaman, Ali Bajwa QC and Christian Wasunna of Garden Court Chambers.

Ali Bajwa QC and Christian Wasunna, members of the Garden Court Chambers Criminal Defence Team, were instructed by Sinead Zaman of Powell Spencer Solicitors.

28/01/2021

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/they-want-us-in-court-to-keep-the-system-moving-but-wont-recognise-the-danger-with-funding-tjwxhkr5f Mark Troman in our crime team is the Times' lawyer in conversation this week

Of the eight solicitors that Mark Troman qualified with at the north London law firm Powell Spencer & Partners in 2007, he is the only one still practising in criminal legal aid.The others, says

26/07/2020

The Secret Barrister, Part 4

Over the last week, we have been hearing about the troubles in the criminal justice system in England and Wales from the anonymous author known as the Secret...

24/07/2020

The Secret Barrister, Part 3

Last week we heard from the anonymous author The Secret Barrister about why they say that the legal system in England and Wales is in crisis. (Subscribe: htt...

19/07/2020

Secret Barrister, Part 2

For years - via Twitter, and now a tell-all book - an anonymous author known as the 'Secret Barrister' has painted a picture of a criminal justice system on ...