Cases and Press
Chris Saltrese Solicitors offer a personalised client service that meets the individual needs of each case. Careful preparation, attention to detail and a comprehensive understanding of the parameters of each case provide the baseline for meeting the standard of representation clients have a right to expect.
Early and continuous consultation with counsel ensures client confidence at every step of the way to trial.
As a measure of our success, many cases result in pre-trial acquittals precluding the stress and risk of undergoing trial. |
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In other cases we have first represented on appeal.
We also prepare applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission who have the power to refer cases, where warranted, back to the Court of Appeal.
Here is a sample of cases – to preserve the anonymity of clients, we have initialised cases that are not otherwise in the public domain.
Leading cases where Chris Saltrese Solicitors have represented clients include:
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R v Warren [2005] EWCA Crim
Rape conviction quashed on new evidence of unreliability of accuser former girlfriend.
Read More........ |
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R v Meanwell [2004] Birmingham Crown Court
Historic care home 'trawl' case against headmaster stayed before trial on abuse of process.
Read More........ |
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R v Chapman [2006] EWCA Crim 1656
Misdirection on delay and good character
Conviction quashed. No re-trial.
Read transcript........ |
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R v D [2007] Court of Appeal Criminal Division
Uncorroborated historic allegations of rape and other offences made against a man of exemplary character by a former neighbour from a broken home with a long history of psycho-social problems. Disclosure of medical and counselling records had been refused by the prosecution at trial. We were first instructed following conviction and the Court of Appeal ordered disclosure of records which led to the conviction being quashed. A retrial is pending. |
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Leading cases in progress include:
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R (on application by John Douglas Pinnington) v the Chief Constable of Thames Valley [2008] Queen’s Bench Division (Admin) – Leave for judicial review – awaiting full hearing.
Judicial review of a police disclosure of unsubstantiated allegations for an Enhanced Criminal Record Certificate. Read more...
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R v B [2007] Leave to appeal out of time - awaiting full hearing.
B was accused by an adult daughter after a property dispute. The twelve year old daughter of a former partner who lived opposite the main accuser also made allegations of abuse aged 3 despite having previously denied abuse during a previous unrelated child protection investigation. Leave to appeal out of time was granted on reliability and an expert’s report commissioned. The case awaits the full hearing. |
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R v T [2007] Leave to appeal out of time - awaiting full hearing.
An unmarried man in his 40s was accused by a relative’s son with a history of drug and alcohol problems. Friends of the accuser joined in to make marginal claims with rumour playing a potent rule in a close knit rural community. Convicted at a second trial after the first ended with a hung jury, the appellant instructed us to review his case having been told there were no grounds for appeal. We obtained the judge’s summing up and identified potentially serious shortcomings in directions on contamination and good character and the hearsay rules of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Leave to appeal was granted on renewed application by counsel to the full court and the final hearing is awaited. |
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R v W [2006] Crown Court
A 56-year-old woman made allegations out of the blue against a stepfather of good character in his 70s of offences 45 years ago. The complainant had a long and obscure history of psycho-social problems stretching back to circumstances before the accused joined the family and there were suggestions of a financial motive. We sought complete disclosure of records and the case, put back a number of times due to the complainant’s reticence, eventually collapsed pre-trial with a full acquittal. |
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R v T [2007] Crown Court
A father was accused by his adult daughter who was undergoing counselling for a marriage breakdown. We represented the defendant at the original case in 1999 where the Crown withdrew the charges. Some years later, the accuser’s daughter, the client’s granddaughter, was led to make an allegation though she had been mortified when her mother’s allegations had cut her off from her grandfather in the years gone by. With little to go on, the Crown attempted to introduce the daughter’s allegations as supportive evidence under the new rules in the Criminal Justice Act 2003. We prepared detailed legal submissions with counsel and obtained extensive disclosure undermining the prosecution. The Crown was forced to withdraw the case with the client receiving a full acquittal. |
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Dangerous Convictions
Article by Margaret Jervis and Chris Saltrese from Inside Time
Read here..... |
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Response to Home Office Consultation on rape trial proposals
Read here..... |
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