Legal Aid cuts lead to stay application in FCA prosecution

Application was made at Southwark Crown Court to stay the FCA’s prosecution of five defendants in a massive land deal fraud. As a result of the 30% cuts to the VHCC legal aid fees, no independent barristers were prepared to act and the Public Defender Service, set up to plug the gap, was not set up in time to cater for this type of multi-handed trial. The defendants were thereby involuntarily unrepresented at the date of their trial. The prosecution contended that the case should be adjourned.

Alexander Cameron QC appeared pro bono for the five unrepresented defendants.

29th April 2014