Vishal Misra, instructed by Sonn Macmillan Walker, secured the acquittal of his client at the Nightingale Court at Aldersgate House following a trial.
The defendant had been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence, racially aggravated criminal damage and, in the alternative, the non-racially aggravated versions of these offences. The defendant had been filmed using insulting language against the complainant and admitted that the words could have been construed as threatening in his police interview.
Vishal highlighted to the jury that the video evidence did not capture any racial epithets being said at all. Alongside this, Vishal highlighted that all witnesses gave an account of a confusing incident with many people involved. At its highest, the Crown witnesses said that they were ‘90%’ sure that the defendant had used racist language and caused damage to the property. This was far short of the standard of proof required.
Vishal further highlighted that the defendant had accepted the extent of his role in this incident. He was a man of good character and was ashamed of the insults he had uttered but he did not intend to threaten anyone and had certainly never used racist language. There was nothing to suggest that the defendant was lying about this.
After deliberating for just over an hour, the jury returned unanimous Not Guilty verdicts on all counts.
Vishal’s full profile: https://greatjames.co.uk/members/vishal-misra-profile/