Successes of the Month - September 2012
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Michael Munn, Prosecutor, and Emma Batchelor, Paralegal Officer, CPS South East
Michael and Emma took a difficult attempted murder case forward despite the victims and witnesses in the case not supporting the prosecution.
Girdaware Singh Basra was convicted of the attempted murder of his ex-wife's new husband, as well as wounding with intent and breaching a restraining order in relation to his ex-wife. The victim was hit with a meat cleaver, partially strangled and left with serious injuries.
Michael said: "We achieved a conviction in the face of numerous difficulties. From the beginning, we prepared the case on the basis that none of the witnesses would support the prosecution due to fear and family pressure. Fortunately, they had provided statements by this stage.
"The defendant had given a 'no comment' interview. We rightly assumed that he would argue 'self defence' and had prepared to prove our case to the contrary. Sure enough, he claimed that he was attacked and that he struck the victim over the head with a lamp to defend himself.
"No lamp was found and our expert witness said that the blow could not have been delivered in the way described. The defendant also had numerous previous convictions for violence. and toxicology reports showed that the night of the offence he had taken alcohol, cocaine and heroin.
"The jury convicted unanimously within an hour."
Basra was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection, with a minimum of six years and 62 days before he can apply for parole. The Judge said it was impossible to tell whether he would ever be safe to release.
Emma added: "I'm very glad we have a system that enables us to continue with a case even without the support of the victims and witnesses who may be too scared to be seen helping the prosecution."
