Oliver Weetch

Crime

Oliver’s defence practice encompasses acting in a wide spectrum of cases involving murder, terrorism, violence and sexual offences.

Recent cases of note have involved a multi-handed conspiracy to murder; the successful defence of a driver accused of importing £12 million pounds worth of cocaine through the Eurotunnel; a baby-shaking murder; the defence of a 14-year old female accused of murdering her mother’s partner which also involved successfully resisting an appeal by the Attorney-General against her manslaughter sentence; as well as cases involving both the encouragement of terrorism and the dissemination of terrorist publications by defendants on both the far-right and far-left of the political spectrum.

Oliver’s prosecution practice encompasses acting as leading counsel in multi-handed prosecutions of serious organised criminal groups with a particular focus on firearms and offences involving widespread disorder and violence.

Recent cases of note include acting as leading counsel in a high-profile nine-handed violent disorder case which led to the death of one of those involved in the disorder and sentences imposed on the defendants with a combined total of over 30 years. He is currently instructed as leading counsel in an eight-handed escape and violent disorder case. He is a Grade 4 prosecutor.

Oliver has considerable expertise in undertaking appellate review work examining whether fresh grounds of appeal may exist in respect of old convictions and sentences. Many of the cases he has reviewed have resulted in fresh grounds of appeal being identified and submitted to both the Court of Appeal and the Criminal Cases Review Commission and have ultimately led to convictions being overturned and/or sentences being reduced. In total, Oliver has appeared in the Court of Appeal on more than 35 separate occasions.

Select reported appeal cases

• R v BAZ [2022] EWCA Crim 940, [2002] W.L.R.100, [2022] Crim L.R. 929.
  Defence against an AG-Ref dealing with the issue of retained responsibility in manslaughter cases.
• R v Spouse [2020] EWCA Crim 1906, [2020] 9 WLUK 527.
  Sentence reduced on appeal from 8 years to 5 years imprisonment for a s.18 stabbing.
• R v Laurence [2017] EWCA Crim 2231, [2017] 12 WLUK 211
  Cold case appeal. Sentence reduced on grounds of disparity with co-accused.
• R v Newton [2017] EWCA Crim 874, [2017] 2 Cr.App.R.(S). 41.
  Cold case appeal. Sentence reduced for a serious sexual offence.
• R v Sugulle [2013] EWCA Crim 170, [2013] 2 Cr.App.R.(S). 61.
  Sentenced reduced on appeal for possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
• R v Riat [2012] EWCA Crim 1509, [2103] Cr.App.R. 2, [2013] 1 Crim L.R. 60.
  Conviction overturned on appeal. The case is a leading authority on hearsay.
• R v Trott [2011] EWCA Crimn 2395, [2011] 175 J.P. 458.
  Restraining order on acquittal overturned on appeal. Case is an important authority in this area.
• R v Stannard [2008] EWCA Crim 2789, [2009] 2 Cr.App.R.(S). 21
  Important authority on sentencing of offences spanning the coming into force of the Criminal Justice Act 2003
• R v Rodney [2007] EWCA Crim 133, [2007] 1 WLUK 430.
  Conviction overturned on appeal due to bias/intervention of trial judge.

Inquests & public Inquiries

Over the years, Oliver has been instructed to appear at coroner’s inquests across the country, most often on behalf of families of the deceased but also on behalf of other interested parties. Oliver has conducted inquests both with and without the involvement of a jury.

Inquests of note

• Case of H – Case involving the representation of a doctor at a large scale inquest involving issues relating to the policy and procedure of the insertion of naso-gastric tubes during treatment of patients.
• Case of NI – Case involving a High Court action brought to secure the body of the deceased to be released to a particular family member.
• Case of EC – Inquest involving the representation of a family whose daughter had died after fainting during a mammogram procedure.

Regulatory law

Oliver has particular experience in cases involving the representation of individuals and companies prosecuted by Trading Standards and the Health and Safety Executive. Many of these cases are matters on which he has been instructed on a direct access basis.

Television & radio work

Oliver has acted as a legal adviser to variety of television programmes over the years. Some of them haven’t been entirely awful. He has also appeared on radio as an expert commentator on criminal legal matters.

Direct Access qualified

Oliver is direct access qualified.

News

16 Jan 2023

Man acquitted of importing 12 million pounds of cocaine and heroin into the UK – Oliver Weetch defends

Oliver Weetch, instructed by GT Stewart Solicitors, defended MV who along with another defendant was charged with importing over 200kg of cocaine and heroin...

4 Jul 2018

3 years after being convicted of multiple rape counts, Oliver Weetch’s client is acquitted at his re-trial after the Court of Appeal overturn all of his convictions

In 2015, the client was convicted after trial of multiple counts of rape of a child under 13 and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment....

18 Apr 2018

Oliver Weetch and Helen Easterbrook start large scale conspiracy case to traffic and control prostitutes

Oliver Weetch, leading Helen Easterbrook, has begun defending a client who along with seven others is on trial at Wood Green Crown Court accused...

22 Jan 2018

Clients of Oliver Weetch and Richard Hutchings acquitted of conspiracy to murder

Oliver Weetch and Richard Hutchings both acted as led junior counsel for two defendants accused with three others of conspiring to murder two people....

20 Sep 2017

Oliver Weetch’s client acquitted of kidnapping, robbery and assault.

After a seven day trial at Snaresbrook involving five co-defendants, Oliver’s client was acquitted by the jury of kidnapping, robbery and assault charges arising...