Gordon Aspden KC

Gordon Aspden KC’s background is in general common law.

His intellectual ability was marked out early on when he was awarded the prestigious Scarman scholarship, having come top in the Bar examinations.

Gordon is now a vastly experienced advocate who has also practised at the Bar in the Cayman Islands.

In recent years he has specialised in criminal law and public inquiry work.

Gordon is noted for his prowess in complex cases involving homicide, serious sexual offences and organised crime.

He has detailed knowledge, and a wealth of practical experience, in trials involving defendants with mental illnesses and/or personality disorders (diminished responsibility, M’Naghten insanity, fitness to plead, & hospital/hybrid orders).

Other noteworthy areas of expertise include joint enterprise, so-called “cold cases”, knife-crime, vulnerable witnesses, firearms, and the use of DNA evidence.

Gordon was instructed by the Metropolitan Police in connection with the Undercover Policing Inquiry.

Overall he is noted for his incisive and pragmatic approach, his expert handling of demanding and high pressure cases, and his success rate.

Gordon is the head of 7BR’s criminal team. In addition to his court practice Gordon also provides training to other lawyers on cases involving homicide and serious sexual offences.

Recent criminal cases

R v Hussain (Nottingham) (2025) – prosecuting a taxi driver for a series of sexual assaults against female passengers. Complex legal issues.

R v Larman & Okocha-Sleight (Northampton) (2025) – prosecuting two drug dealers for the murder of a rival using a hunting knife. Self-defence and diminished responsibility.

R v McGarry (Nottingham) (2024) – prosecuting a son for the murder of his father by beating him to death whilst high on drugs. Diminished responsibility.

R v Wardle (Nottingham) (2024) – prosecuting a man for rape, incest, and child abuse. Vulnerable witnesses.

R v Hatherley (Lincoln) (2024) – prosecuting a man for rape and child abuse. Vulnerable witnesses.

R v Bauld (Leicester) (2024) – prosecuting a son for killing his mother with a knife. Diminished responsibility.

R v Wynne (Stoke) (2024) – prosecuting a man for historic child sexual abuse of five boys.

R v Giles (Lincoln) (2024) – defending one of three men charged with murder in the context of enforcing a drugs debt.

R v Howitt & two others (Nottingham) (2024) – prosecution of three youths for murder and robbery in the street. The offences were committed on the second defendant’s thirteenth birthday.

R v Metson & Hancock (Lincoln) (2024) – prosecution of a domestic murder where the body was mutilated, dismembered, concealed and disposed of. Read more here.

R v Khalifa (Leicester) (2024) – prosecution of a serial rapist and child abuser. Numerous issues of law and fact requiring specialist knowledge and handling.

R v Froggatt (Derby) (2024) – prosecution of a murder in the street with a knife. Complex issues concerning visual imagery analysis.

R v Skowronski (Lincoln) (2024) – defence of a man charged with killing a pensioner. Legal issues concerning the ambit of unlawful act manslaughter and causation. Read more here.

R v Thomas (Mold) (2023) – defence of a son charged with the murder of his father. Diminished responsibility.

R v Madaweni (Derby) (2023) – prosecution of a murder in the street with a screwdriver.

R v Dafter (Northampton) (2023) – prosecution of a domestic murder. Diminished responsibility.

R v Iyayi (Derby) (2023) – prosecution of a domestic murder. Diminished responsibility.

R v Anderson (Nottingham) (2023) – defence of one of five men charged with a murder involving a stabbing in the street.

R v Zydek (Lincoln) (2023) – prosecution of a drug-related murder by a gang of traffickers.

R v Stevens (Warwick) (2023) – prosecution of a one punch killing with complex medical issues.

R v Servutas (Lincoln) (2023) – defence of a two-handed murder by drowning.

R v Cranston (Chelmsford) (2023) – prosecution of domestic rape.

R v Mahmood (Shrewsbury) – prosecution of rape by a man recently released from a sentence of imprisonment for public protection.

R v Malek (Lincoln) (2023) – defence of a murder involving a stabbing in the street.

R v Ochonma (Leeds) (2023) – prosecution of two men for rape.

R v Coupland-Short (Lincoln) (2023) – prosecution of multi-victim case involving rape, false imprisonment, and controlling and coercive behaviour.

R v O’Donnell (Nottingham) (2023) – prosecution of a murder which the killer “live-streamed” on social media. Diminished responsibility.

R v Ranoszek (Lincoln) (2022) – prosecution of a murder and dismemberment.

R v Solanki (Leicester) (2022) – prosecution of a domestic murder. Diminished responsibility.

R v Karbauskas (Lincoln) (2022) – defence of a “whodunit” murder.

R v Gochman (Nottingham) (2022) – defence of the hitman in a contract killing.

R v Boianjiu (Northampton) (2022) – prosecution of a convicted murderer for the rape and attempted murder of a stranger.

R v Kaminski (Leicester) (2021) – prosecution of a drug-related joint enterprise murder.

R v Gaskin (Leicester) (2021) – prosecution of a multi-handed attempted murder involving a firearm.

R v Savescu (Stoke) (2021) – prosecution of multiple rapes.

R v Gerrard (Sheffield) (2021) – defence of one of four men charged with a murder in the street.

R v Grant (Lincoln) (2021) – defence of a murder in the street.

R v Tate (Worcester) (2021) – prosecution of multiple rapes.