James House QC successful in securing acquittal in murder trial

James House QC acted for Roddi Stewart in the 9 day murder trial.

The deceased and defendant were friends, but a few months before the incident had fallen out whilst both were staying at the same address.  The defendant had moved out, but on the day in question returned to the address to see the occupier, a mutual friend.  The deceased and others were also present and it seems whatever the past issue between the pair, they were getting on well.  Within the living room of the property the evidence established there was a large hunting style sheath knife which appears to have belonged to the deceased.  At approximately 6.45 pm the deceased was seen in a street a couple of miles away where he threatened an innocent bystander with a knife, matching this description, before he returned to the address.

At some time after 8pm the deceased left the address and went to a nearby flat of another mutual friend, where he stole his television.  He carried it back to the address where he tried to get it to work, but was unable to and it seems he then threw it to the floor, breaking it.  At this point the deceased began to state it was the defendant’s fault and he demanded the defendant pay for the broken TV.  It was the Prosecution case that the defendant was now in possession of the hunting knife and that during the course of the argument, he stabbed the deceased a single blow to the chest, causing his death.  It was the defendant’s case, that the deceased was in possession of the knife at this point, and that he grabbed the defendant by the throat before hitting him to the chest with the hilt of the knife.  However, the defendant believed he had in fact been stabbed and in self-defence he grabbed the arm of the deceased in which he was holding the knife, shoulder barged him to get away and tried to run from the room.  As he did so he heard the deceased call his name and ask for help and turned to see the knife protruding from the deceased’s chest.  Thereafter, the defendant called for an ambulance and gave first aid to the deceased whilst he waited for paramedics to attend.

James was leading Liam Muir from Carter Osborne Solicitors. The case was reported by the BBC and can be found here.

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