January 2010
ENVIRONMENTAL PROSECUTION
John Wyn Williams defended Castle Cement in a high profile environmental prosecution on the 20th January 2010. the case has beeen sent to the Crown Court.
December 2009
MOTHER CONVICTED OF KILLING SON
Julie Travis was jailed for life on the 21st December 2009 for the murder of her 23 year old son. Owen Edwards led by Ian Murphy QC prosecuted the 46 year old , who was convicted after trial of attacking her son with a golf club.
October 2009
CHAMBERS DEFEND IN MASSIVE CANNABIS CONSPIRACY
Several members of chambers defended in what was described by the Prosecution as the largest cannabis factory case in the UK. Rhys Pryce Rowlands, Owen Edwards, John Wyn Williams, Jonathan Austin, Sion ap Mihangel and Dafydd Roberts represented the Defendants who were sentenced on the 16th October 2009 at Caernarfon Crown Court. The conspiracy which was centred in North Wales involved a number of drugs factories in Wales and England. Amongst the premises converted into cannabis production was a former High Street DIY store. The potential annual yield of drugs was estimated as having a volume of £15 million.
September 2009
BEICIO CYMRU
Beicio Cymru is a charity cycle ride for solicitors and barristers from Chester & North Wales. On the 26th September members of chambers, Sion ap Mihangel, Brett Williamson, Dafydd Roberts & Anna Pope along with Huw Edwards from Bone & Payne Solicitors, Llandudno, will set out on a cycling trip from Holyhead to Cardiff. Passing through Porthmadog, Aberystwyth, Llandrindod Wells and Brecon, they hope to arrive in Cardiff on Wednesday 30th September all being well! The journey is not only a personal challenge for all 5 but also intended to raise money for worthy charities.
Huw & Sion will be raising money for Breast Cancer UK, Anna is raising money for SANKWIA, a small village in Gambia that has close connections with Amlwch and Brett and Dafydd are raising funds for Ty Gobaith/Hope House, children's hospices in Shropshire & North Wales.
Your support would be greatly appreciated not only by those charities but will also help Huw, Sion, Anna & Dafydd when tackling the Welsh hills and mountains along the route!
To pledge your support please click the links below:
www.justgiving.com/dafydd-roberts
www.justgiving.com/SionaHuw
www.justgiving.com/anna-pope
www.justgiving.com/brett-williamson
and for more information on their charities please click:
www.cancerresearchuk.org
www.sankwia.co.uk
www.hopehouse.org.uk
August 2009
Member of Chambers Mr ANDREW CLARKE retires
We would like to wish Andrew Clarke a very long and happy retirement and take this opportunity of expressing our appreciation for his contribution to chambers both in his capacity as Treasurer and as a dedicated member of chambers.
JULY 2009
MURDER TRIAL ENDS WITH 2 LIFE SENTENCES
Robin Spencer QC and Jonathan Austin have completed the prosecution of two Runcorn men for the killing of a vulnerable adult. David Argent was attacked by the father and the boyfriend of his ex-partner in a planned assault, and died some months later of his injuries without ever recovering consciousness. At the end of the three week trial at Chester Crown Court the two men were convicted and given Life sentences by Mr Justice Clarke.
SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION FOR THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
Some of Britain's leading construction firms subscribed to a secret blacklist of workers which prevented them from getting jobs. More than 40 firms including Balfour Beatty, Amec Construction and Morgan Est, used the database of workers to vet employees. John Wyn Williams prosecuting for the ICO told the court that 'the body was funded by construction companies across the UK '. The database included names, dates of birth, national insurance numbers and 'conduct which may impact on an individual's chances for further employemnt'. It would collate and provide information to construction companies. Individuals on the database were not aware of it and could not challenge the accuracy of the information'. Ian Kerr, businessman from Stoke Heath, Worcestershire who ran the database was fined £5000.
JUNE 2009
CONMAN JAILED AFTER DUPING ALCOHOLIC LOTTERY WINNER OUT OF £700,000
Fraudster James Prince was jailed recently after befriending lottery winner in rehab, plying him with drink then fleecing him of £700,000. Peter Moss, prosecuting told Chester Crown Court that the case was based upon an incredible set of facts involving lottery winners, beautiful cars and fast women. Whilst extracting £700,000 from him, Peter Moss said 'Prince kept Mr Gough holed up and boozed up for six nights at Broxton for the purpose of extracting as much money as possible'. see http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1191135/Conman-jailed-befriending-lottery-winner-rehab--fleecing-700-000.html
MARCH 2009
RUTH HENKE QC JOINS CHAMBERS
In line with our continued policy of expansion, we are delighted to announce that Ruth Henke QC has joined Chambers. Ruth specialises in Child Care, Family Law, Public & Administrative Law and Education Law. More>...
PRESS APOLOGISE TO DEFENCE BARRISTER JOHN WYN WILLIAMS
February 2009
The Chester Evening Leader has published a front page apology to John Wyn Williams after mistakenly printing his photgraph in Tuesdays edition instead of the defendant he was representing. Rather than take legal proceedings Mr John Wyn Williams suggested that they donate £500 to Chester Homeless. More>...
February 2009
JOHN WYN WILLIAMS DEFENDS BANGOR MAN CLEARED OF KILLING HIS DAD
John Wyn Williams defended Kenneth Jones who was accused of the manslaughter of his father aged 88 after he pushed him aside when he opened the front door of the home they shared. More>...