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Paul Watson QC

Called 1978 Silk 2002
		Related resources: Principles and Procedure of confiscation

Practice Details

Both at the junior Bar and since taking silk in 2002, Paul Watson has had a balanced practice involving both prosecution and defence work. He has prosecuted numerous serious cases involving sexual (often historical) and violent crime as well as fraud and general crime. As a junior he defended many complex and difficult cases including acting as junior counsel for the defence of a nurse charged with altering the life support machine settings of patients in her care (her conviction was recently overturned in the Court of Appeal, where he appeared on her behalf in a reference from the Criminal Cases Review Commission), a police officer charged in relation to an alleged large scale fraud arising out of the government's scheme to compensate handgun owners required to hand in their guns pursuant to the Firearms Act 1997, one of the defendants in the so called "Donnygate" corruption trial in 2003, and defended in many other serious criminal trials.

Since taking silk he has continued to both prosecute and defend. He has acted for the Crown in several murders (ranging from child murders to contract killings) . For the defence he has been involved in several "high profile" cases ranging from fraud to homicide.

He recently appeared in a lengthy "high profile" inquest on behalf of two police officers who had shot dead a psychotic male who was in possession of three swords, and approaching a petrol station forecourt.

Case Examples

R v Aspin (Sheffield) 2006
Defending installer of solid fuel heater in allegation of manslaughter caused by Carbon Monoxide fumes.

R v Birmingham (Old Bailey) 2005
Defending in 4 handed, 3 month murder trial.

R v Ilyas (Birmingham) 2006
Defending in large scale MTIC fraud.

R v Dawes (Nottingham) 2005
Defending in large scale money laundering trial.

R v Tharamalingam (Old Bailey ) 2004
Defending one of Sri Lankan gang in pre-planned murder.

R v Fox & others (Woolwich) 2004
Prosecuting conspiracy to rob Johnson Matthey Warehouse of £1.5 million in gold bullion.

R v Upton (Manchester) 2004
Defending series of armed robberies on a massive scale.

R v Pirie & Galyer (Hull) 2004
Prosecuting child murder case.

R v Kerry (Maidstone) 2003
Defending prison officer in long running "prison corruption" trial.

R v Bridge & Fletcher (Sheffield) 2003
Prosecuting child murder case involving complex medical causation issues.

R v Anderson (Leeds) 2003
Defending profoundly deaf client on alleged triple rape.

Appointments

Recorder - 1997 - (Represented JSB on international 'Grotius' project comparing the treatment of scientific evidence in common law and European jurisdictions – Paris 1998.)

Degree

Churcher's College, Petersfield
BA (Hons) Leeds Metropolitan University 1976

Professional Associations

Criminal Bar Association

Publications

Contributor to the recently published standard work on forensic neuropathology (Whitwell – Forensic Neuropathology (Arnold) 2005) arising from his particular experience of trials involving this area of forensic medicine.

Interests

Wife (Sally), one child (Richard). He devotes such time as he has away from work to his twin passions of sailing and following Middlesbrough Football Club. In each case expensive and fruitless.

Served as Army Legal Services Officer 1980 – 1985. Substantial experience prosecuting (and defending) Courts-Martial at every level. Retired with rank of Major. Graduate of US Army JAG School, University of Virginia, 1983