George Dugbo of Lamb Building Chambers, representing one of two defendants, has successfully secured his client’s acquittal at Isleworth Crown Court, where both defendants were acquitted following a contested legal argument on the admissibility of key prosecution evidence.

The defendants were charged with offences including false imprisonment, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and threats to kill.

The complainant and a key witness failed to attend court on the second day of trial. In response, the prosecution applied to adduce body-worn video footage of the complainant speaking to police shortly after the alleged incident, relying on the doctrine of res gestae.

On behalf of the defendant, George Dugbo opposed the application and advanced submissions under section 78 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to exclude the evidence, submitting that the footage was not a spontaneous account and that its admission would be unfair given concerns as to the reliability of the complainant’s evidence.

In refusing the application, the trial judge considered the submissions of both defence counsel, including the focused section 78 arguments advanced by George Dugbo on behalf of the defendant.

Following that ruling, the Crown offered no evidence, and both defendants were formally acquitted.