Our firearms law specialist Laura Saunsbury has achieved a successful outcome for a former firearms dealer who faced prosecution for an offence of dishonesty. Our client was arrested in June 2014 on suspicion of fraudulently creating an altered copy of a registered firearms dealer’s certificate. Laura Saunsbury was instructed at an early stage of the case and repeatedly invited the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to review the strength of the evidence against our client.
He was skilfully represented at his trial in October 2015 by leading firearms barrister Nick Doherty who made a submission of no case to answer. The Judge discharged the jury and ordered a retrial, directing the Prosecution to make further enquiries to substantiate the basis of their case. The Prosecution failed to make those enquiries and ultimately it was Laura Saunsbury who obtained the further evidence from Germany that finally persuaded the Prosecution there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. Just a few days before the re-trial was due to begin last month, the Prosecution offered no evidence and the Court entered a formal not guilty verdict against our client.
In expressing his relief and gratitude our client said, “On behalf of myself and my family I thank you deeply for all yours and Nick’s efforts, it is truly appreciated… You pushed in difficult circumstances and got the right result.”