Vishal Misra, instructed by Natasha Anderson of Criminal Defence Solicitors, secured an acquittal after a 2-day trial at Basildon Crown Court.
The defendant was charged with a count of threatening another with a bladed article in a public place. It was alleged that the defendant had threatened a refuse collector who refused to collect the defendant’s bin as it was not on the pavement.
Three refuse collectors gave eyewitness testimony that the defendant had armed himself with a kitchen knife and threatened one of their number. Vishal highlighted that there had been CCTV evidence which had been lost. Therefore, all the jury had to consider were two conflicting accounts.
Vishal suggested that there were features of the Crown’s case which flew in the face of common sense. Vishal also highlighted that the three witnesses had all given evidence which led to the conclusion that no one was ever in danger of immediate physical harm, a key component of the offence charged.
After deliberating for under 2-hours, the jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict.