Nigel Edwards KC instructed by Nigel Hedley of Hedley’s solicitors, leading junior David Webster and the team that defended Logan MacPhail in a harrowing case involving this then 16-year-old who inflicted 36 stab wounds to his recent ex-girlfriend Holly Newton and 6 stab wounds to her 16-year-old friend, killing her and wounding him.
Logan is autistic and has both learning difficulties and a severe speech impediment, all of which leading to the local youth justice teams having him immediately assessed psychiatrically and psychologically. This required his legal team to instruct a variety of experts on Logan’s behalf to assess all areas in the interests of justice to do the same.
Logan never denied doing the acts that led to Holly’s death and the wounding of the other child that tried to rescue her.
The issue for the jury was, “could he form the intent to murder or cause serious harm”, he having pleaded to manslaughter.
After long deliberation, the Jury decided he could and convicted in accordance with their oaths.
Logan received a sentence of 17 years total minimum term to be served at his majesty’s pleasure, the term used for a life sentence involving a child.
This case had involved long significant hearings to initially determine Logan’s fitness to plead and stand trial, with significant reasonable adjustments in place to facilitate Logan’s issues it was agreed by all that he could have a fair trial and accordingly he was fit. With those adjustments the case lasted for more than 6 weeks.
Nigel has many years of experience representing and dealing with children who are accused of murder and who have killed other children and indeed adults.
Nigel has a wealth of experience dealing with many cases involving homicide and children with cognitive and neurodiverse issues. He is rightly regarded as being one of the very few Kings’ Counsel in the country with true expertise in this area.
Nigel is often asked to advise and lecture others in legal, medical and youth justice fields about issues that arise in cases involving children and young adults. He is available to be instructed countrywide.