Jeremy
Benson KC
Jeremy is an accomplished silk with over thirty years’ experience both prosecuting and defending in fact heavy, complex cases of considerable importance.
Assistant Recorder 1994
Recorder 1999
Bencher Middle Temple 2002
Tutor Judge, Judicial College 2015
Jeremy
Benson KC
Jeremy is an accomplished silk with over thirty years’ experience both prosecuting and defending in fact heavy, complex cases of considerable importance.
He is instructed in serious crimes at the highest level including sexual offences, murder, organised crime and financial crime. Jeremy has been ranked in the directories every year since 2001 in both crime and fraud and more recently in tax: corporate and vat. Jeremy is frequently called upon to teach various advocacy courses worldwide, including the American Bar Association advocacy course in Florida, the Keble College Annual Advocacy Course and the teacher trainer advocacy course at Middle Temple. He is a tutor Judge at the Judicial College.
Jeremy is frequently briefed in complex murder trials often involving complicated scientific, psychiatric or medical evidence. He is familiar with the processes, procedures and approaches required for expert evidence, and is adept at witness handling and being appropriately sensitive to the issues and personalities involved.
Jeremy has more than just an in-depth knowledge of the relevant law and an ability swiftly to assimilate complex and extensive material. He provides a tactical perspective that ensures a trial is run with an eye on all the potential legal, factual, evidential and procedural advantages which can be deployed for his clients.
Murder & Manslaughter
R v D & others (2018)
Five defendants, all under 18 at the time of the offence, in a group stabbing in East London. Press Link: BBC
R v DD & others (2018)
Murder in Boston (Lincs). Multi-handed. Complex DNA and blood spatter evidence. Press Link: BBC
R v B and C (2017)
M25 Cobham Services Murder. Represented second defendant. Acquitted. Press Link: BBC
R v Kestutis Bauzys (2017) .
Press Link: BBC
R v Alison Tomlin (2016)
Pathological evidence could not identify how or when the deceased had died 9 days before his body was found in his flat. Scientific evidence showed that the Defendant was present after his death. There were complex arguments concerning forensic evidence and the circumstances of death, bad character submissions, and legal argument on whether it was possible to properly convict where the prosecution bring defendants to trial in the alternative. Press Link: BBC
R v Alam (2015)
Prosecution of six under-18s for murder by stabbing with a knife. Involved detailed cell-site analysis, detailed CCTV analysis, detailed forensic evidence, self-defence and submissions on bad character. Press Link: BBC
R v X & 3 Others (2015)
Successful defence of a 16 year old girl accused of murder and of attempting to pervert the course of justice between charge and trial. The case involved stringent cross-examination of the main prosecution witness and complex legal issues regarding joint enterprise. Jeremy’s submissions were later confirmed as correct by the Court of Appeal. Press Link: BBC
R v Tamoliunas (2014)
5 handed murder of an Italian student and attempted murder of another. The case involved complex forensic evidence and developed into a four way “cutthroat”. Press Link: Mirror
R v MR (2012)
Acting for an immigration solicitor who was found to have murdered his wife. Press Link: BBC
R v F (2012)
Acquitted of murder by stabbing during a group attack. The defendants had been previously been convicted of the attempted murder of the deceased who had died two years and two months after the original attack. Issue at trial was causation.
R v N (2012) Manslaughter.
“Shaken Baby Syndrome”. Ten medical experts gave evidence. Detailed and complex cross-examination. Acquitted.
R v Foye (2011)
A second homicide whilst serving life imprisonment for murder. Diminished responsibility. Jeremy also appeared on the appeal: the important issue of whether the burden on the defence to establish diminished responsibility is consistent with Art. 6 ECHR [2013] EWCA Crim 475. Press Link: BBC
R v J T & others (2011)
Contract killing. Involved cross-examination of an informant and complex telephone evidence. Judge found no case to answer.
R v C H (2010)
Charged with the attempted murder of two Metropolitan Police officers, and aggravated burglaries where a firearm was discharged. Acquitted of the attempted murders.
R v H (2010)
Manslaughter of young child by her father involving complex medical evidence.
R v SY
1st year university student accused of attempted murder by deliberately driving his car at the complainant. Complainant severely injured and unable to give evidence.
Organised Crime
R v LC
Largest non-terrorist importation of guns and explosives (hand-guns, machine guns, silencers, grenades and rocket propelled grenades, Semtex and wireless detonators) investigated by the Anti-Terrorist Branch.
R v W J H
Drugs acquittal: SOCA six month probe and observation case. 1 million ecstasy tablets and 15 kilos of cocaine recovered. Defendant, had a conviction quashed 6 years earlier because of police corruption, and the planting of evidence.
Rape & Serious Sexual Offences
R v A (2017)
Defendant charged with running brothels in London, and rape and sexual assault of 8 sex workers. He was acquitted of all allegations save two sexual assaults. Press Links: Daily Mail
R v P H
Defendant suffered from severe learning difficulties. He was accused of raping two young girls. Both of them were suffering from learning difficulties. The second allegation arose when the defendant was released on bail having initially been in custody for three months. Both girls had previously made false allegations of rape.
Fraud & Complex Fraud
R v FK and six others (2016)
Prosecution of mortgage fraud on Barclays International IOM involving both legal and financial professionals.
Operation Borzoi / Operation Bayweek (2016)
Two 18 month ongoing interconnected operations into large scale money laundering, VAT fraud, duty fraud, and alcohol diversion fraud, involving 12 defendants. Covert investigation techniques were employed: approximately 20,000 pages of electronic material were generated.
HMRC v Butt (2017)
Representing HMRC in the first ever (£6m) penalty case involving MTIC Fraud in the First-Tier Tribunal (Tax). The issue was whether the legislation (now repealed) could be interpreted to apply to MTIC fraud. HMRC succeeded at first instance.
Lakonia Ltd v HMRC (2015)
Representing HMRC. The appellant was a sophisticated MTIC trader. There were approximately 160 files, involving seven contra-traders, operating over a 4 year period. This formed part of the “Malaga Cell” which caused Revenue losses of £200m. Actual knowledge of the fraud was found. Jeremy acted for HMRC in other Malaga Cell cases.
HMRC v Infinity Distribution Ltd
Representing HMRC in an interlocutory appeal against a decision of the First Tier Tribunal (Tax) to exclude evidence of fraud by third parties. The case involves participation in MTIC fraud linked to Operation Inertia, another proved MTIC fraud.
