MK Law has recently achieved a significant legal victory, successfully defending a client accused of Sexual Assault. The allegations stemmed from an incident following a night of socialising among friends, during which the defendant was accused of going upstairs and assaulting the sleeping complainant.
The sexual assault was alleged to have happened whilst the complainants’ partner and our client were downstairs playing video games. The only time the two were not together were on occasions when our client went to use the bathroom during which the alleged incidents were said to have taken place.
Case goes to trial at Croydon Crown Court
From the outset, the defendant maintained his innocence, categorically denying any wrongdoing. The defence team, led by Manisha Knights as the advocate and Jonathan Mellody as the litigator, undertook a meticulous and thorough approach to the case. Their strategy involved exploring the phenomenon of sleep paralysis, which may have influenced the complainant’s perception of events. Additionally, they engaged with numerous witnesses to gather evidence supporting the client’s account and highlighted the errors the officer had made by not seizing relevant devices which may have assisted their case. Ms. Knights cross examination of the complainant made it clear that she could not be certain what had occurred.
The case initially went to trial in mid-2024. However, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision, resulting in a hung verdict. A retrial was scheduled at Croydon Crown Court in December 2024. Over the course of a week-long trial, the defence team presented their case with precision and clarity, highlighting inconsistencies in the allegations and raising reasonable doubt about the events in question.
Ultimately, the jury returned a majority not guilty verdict, fully acquitting the client of all charges. This outcome underscores MK Law’s unwavering commitment to justice and the pursuit of fair outcomes for our clients.
This case highlights the importance of diligent legal representation and a robust defence, particularly in complex and sensitive cases. MK Law’s success in this matter reaffirms our reputation as skilled and dedicated advocates in the field of criminal defence.
Client review
After the case the clients partner left this review for Manisha & Jonathan on Review Solicitors
On behalf of my Husband & I we would like to say a huge thank you to both Manisha & Jon for all their hard work & dedication they put into my Husbands case. If we ever had a question that needed answering Jon would be there and reply as soon as he could & always kept us updated everything as soon as he knew. Manisha, what can we say about this amazing woman. Manisha went above & beyond always & even found evidence that helped the case massively even when we didn’t realise or think it was relevant. My Husbands case was a strange one for the team but Manisha & Jon used all their experience to get the correct verdict & clear my Husbands name for something he didn’t do. We couldn’t ask for a better defence team to support us & keep our nerves & worries under control. If we ever needed their services again (hopefully not in a nice way) we would definately use them again for their professional approach to each & every case & highly recommend MK Law to anyone in need. MK Law don’t just see you as a number they care about each person & case they are representing & make sure you get the correct outcome. Once again we would like to say a massive thank you to everyone at MK Law but especially Manisha & Jon for all that they did for us & our family. You truly are amazing!
