RE was one of 4 young men charged with conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life.
The other 3 defendants pleaded guilty (represented by other firms) to a lesser offence but RE, represented by Safdar Ashraf, took the case to Trial.
Counsel, Robert Fitt, of 33 Bedford Row Chambers was instructed to represent RE at the Crown Court.
RE’s case was that he was not part of the conspiracy and was not one of the men caught in recorded telephone calls alleging to collect and sell ammunition and firearms (Glock style pistols, revolvers and a shotgun).
The prosecution said that RE was involved because he was friends with the other 3 defendants, and they had used firearms together in the past (at an armed attack on a shop in Cheadle). The prosecution also claimed that RE’s nickname could be heard repeatedly in the calls that were recorded only two weeks after the incident at the shop.
The first trial lasted 3 weeks but ended with a “hung Jury”. By the time of the retrial, the prosecution had obtained expert voice recognition evidence so the case against RE was even stronger than before. Despite this, the Defence was able to undermine the CPS case, and RE was found not guilty by the Jury.
The fight for Justice continues.
