James House QC
Year of call
1995
Silk
2015
Instructing James House QC
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
James House QC has a national practice prosecuting and defending in high profile, serious criminal cases and is ranked by the Legal 500 and Chambers UK Bar as a leading Silk in crime.
Renowned for his approachable nature and meticulous attention to detail. James is frequently instructed in complex, multi-handed murder cases, manslaughter cases, including legally and factually challenging allegations of gross negligence, as well as high value fraud and drugs importation cases and serious sexual offences, often involving very young or particularly vulnerable witnesses or defendants.
James has specialist knowledge and experience in cases involving death by arson and is particularly in demand in cases involving defendants or witnesses who by reason of age or physical or psychiatric conditions are particularly vulnerable.
James has a successful appellate practice in the Court of Appeal.
Legal Expertise
Crime
Crime
James is regarded as an exceptional advocate, renowned for his patience and outstanding client and witness handling skills, combined with a compelling manner before a jury.
His practice encompasses all aspects of criminal law, including murder, manslaughter, high value fraud and drugs operations/importations as well as sexual offenses, including rape, child abuse and historic multi-complainant/defendant allegations.
James has extensive experience and expertise in cases involving death by arson as well has undertaking legally and factually complex cases of gross negligence manslaughter involving the medical profession or health and safety violations.
His frequent and repeated instruction in many high-profile cases is testimony to the high regard in which he is held by both prosecution and defence solicitors.
Notable Crime cases
Op Ravel (2022)
Prosecution of 8 people charged with the murder of a young man. Case awaiting trial.
Op Feather (2022)
Prosecution of 8 people charged with murder of two men. Case awaiting trial.
R v Renaldo Baptiste, Juraat Khan, Jeffrey Carew; Patrick Moore (2022)
Murder/Assist offender – the first 3 defendants charged with the murder of a man who had worked for them in their drug dealing business but then tried to break away and allegedly stole from them. They lured him into a trap before knocking him unconscious and then driving him in the boot of a car to an isolated park where he was beaten to death.
Leicestershire Live >R v Joel Cyrus; Jordan Parker; Callum Farquhar; Rakeem Leandre (2021)
Murder – 4 defendants travelled from London to Northampton to rob a cannabis grow but when the occupier of the property they broken into tried to repel them he was stabbed and killed with a sheath knife.
Daily Mail >R v McDonagh x 8 (2021)
New Year’s Eve 2019 members of two traveller families celebrating in Wellingborough. Dispute erupts and public order occurs – broken up by Police. One family return home but rival family call to arms and joined by other family members before attending caravan park of victims and launching attack with knives, billhooks, machetes etc. Throat of one victim cut (attempt murder) and 3 others stabbed and slashed – s.18’s.
R v Mateusz Maciejewski & others (2021)
Murder. Deceased was a long term drug user and shoplifted from store owned by two of the defendants parents. The two brothers took 2 more men with them and visited the deceased who was then attacked and stabbed by Maciejewski.
R v N & others (2020) Warwick CC
James' client was unanimously acquitted of all charges in a gang-related murder. The case was reported by the BBC.
View case >R v Adison Smith (2019)
Defence in multi-handed murder allegation.
Operation Bidden (2019)
Prosecution of murder allegation involving complex bad character materials ultimately successfully added to indictment.
R v Lawrence (2019)
Defence of lady charged with murder of abusive partner.
R v Sean Doherty (2019)
Defence of vulnerable man charged with murder in a drug related dispute over alleged non-payment.
Operation Degree (2018)
Prosecution of four defendants for the kidnap, torture and murder of an elderly jewellery shop owner.
Operation Define (2018)
Prosecution of three defendants for the murder of a rival drug dealer.
R v Kai Stewart (2018)
Defence of young defendant charged with “gang related” murder against a background of rivalry on the internet concerning “drill music” and gang activity.
R v Arkan Ali (2018)
Defence of a man charged with two others with the premeditated, planned murder of five people in an explosion created by large quantities of petrol in the basement of a shop.
R v Kobe Murray (2018)
Successful acquittal in Stourbridge nightclub murder case.
R v Kobe Murray (2018)
Successful acquittal in Stourbridge nightclub murder case.
R v Garner & Stretton (2017)
Successfully prosecuted revenge killing between rival drug gangs.
Instructing James House QC
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
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