Overview
James House QC has a national practice prosecuting and defending in high profile, serious criminal matters and is regularly ranked by the Legal 500 as a leading silk in crime.
He is regularly instructed in murders, manslaughters, high value fraud and drugs operations/importations and sexual offenses, including rape, child abuse and historic multi-complainant/defendant allegations. His expertise and patient approach are particularly in demand in cases involving defendants and/or witnesses who by reason of age and/or physical or psychiatric conditions are particularly vulnerable. He has extensive experience and expertise in cases involving death by arson.
James is always meticulously prepared and thus identifies the crucial issues in any given case. His instruction in some of the most high profile, factually and legally technical cases, for example, multi-defendant murder trials raising issues such as joint enterprise/common intention; cases of “gross negligence” manslaughter involving members of the medical profession and multi complainant fraud allegations where victims are targeted due to their vulnerability, is testimony to the high regard in which he is held both by prosecution and defence solicitors.
He has a successful appellate practice in the Court of Appeal.
Memberships
- Member of the Fraud Lawyers Association
Crime
James is regarded as an exceptional jury advocate and is renowned for his patience and outstanding client and witness handling skills. His practice encompasses all aspects of criminal law, including murder, manslaughter, high value fraud and drugs operations/importations and sexual offenses, including rape, child abuse and historic multi-complainant/defendant allegations.
His approachable nature and expertise are particularly in demand in cases involving vulnerable defendants and witnesses by reason of age and/or physical or psychiatric conditions. He also has particular experience and expertise in cases involving death by arson.
James is always meticulously prepared and thus identifies the crucial issues in any given case. His instruction in some of the most high profile, factually and legally technical cases, for example, multi-defendant murder trials raising issues such as joint enterprise/common intention; cases of “gross negligence” manslaughter involving members of the medical profession and multi complainant fraud allegations where victims are targeted due to their vulnerability, is testimony to the high regard in which he is held both by prosecution and defence solicitors.
Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- Fraud Lawyers Association
Crime Cases
- R v Sean Doherty: (2019) Representing the defendant who is charged with murder in a drug related dispute over alleged non-payment. Trial set for February 2019.
- R v Arkan Ali (and others) (2018) – Represented the defendant who, along with two others, was charged with the premeditated and planned murder of 5 individuals in an explosion in a shop with a residential flat above it.
- Op Degree: (2018) Successfully prosecuted 4 defendants who kidnapped and murdered a jewellery shop owner before robbing the store.
- Op Define: (2018) Successfully prosecuted a 3 handed Loughborough murder, which was drug related
- Kai Stewart: (2018) Represented the defendant in a murder trial concerning rival gangs
- Kobe Murray: (2018) Successful acquittal in Stourbridge nightclub murder case
- Op District: – Law & Casey: (2017) Successful prosecution of a murder of a stranger lured to his death by the use of social media on the promise of gay sex and then stabbed through the heart.
- Garner & Stretton: (2017) Successfully prosecuted revenge killing between rival drug gangs
- Op Milestone: (2015) Successful prosecution of a 6 handed gang related hit on rival gang leader.
- Op Dressage: Prosecution of two defendants for gang related revenge murder.
- R v David Barnes: Defence of man charged with murder by the use of his car.
- Op Worcester: Prosecution of gang related attempted murder in which the victim refused to assist the investigation.
- Op Teeton: Prosecuted a multi-handed conspiracy to import 80kg/£12m of heroin into the UK.
- Op Jasmine – Aucott & Riley: Prosecution of a Mother and Grandmother, under the Dangerous Dogs Act (as amended) following the killing of their daughter/granddaughter by the family Pitbull.
- R v Kulbir Singh: Successful defence of father charged with rape and sexual abuse of daughter aged 2-3 yo.
- David Watkins & Jake Henson: Prosecution of Defendants charged with murder.
- Emma-Jayne Magson: Defence on a charge of murder
- Op Nemesis: Prosecution involving historic (24 year-old) murder allegation.
- Cash & Pound: Successful prosecution of two defendants charged with murder.
- R v Tinoferei and Others: Defence of male charged with attempted murder.
- Liatkins and Others: Successful prosecution of man charged with murder.
- Op. Horseradish: Successful prosecution of four men accused of stabbing a man
- R v J: Prosecution of men accused of an historic murder
- Operation Minoza: Prosecution of 3 men for the murder by arson of 2 teenagers and a 6 month old baby.
- Operation Rubble/Operation Rubytail: Prosecution – Murder of a football coach in Leicester, leading to a revenge attack by arson resulting in the murder of a mother and three children when the ‘wrong house’ was targeted.
- Operation Silver (2015): Successful prosecution of 2 defendants for the murder by arson of a Russian national.
- Operation Brass: EMCCU Prosecution – £1.5 million adult education fraud involving Company Directors defrauding the tax payer through a fraud on Adult Education Colleges.
- Operation Jukebox: Fraud & Blackmail. The Defendant used a series of confidence tricks to gain victims confidence that he could guarantee them a substantial win on the National Lottery and then defrauded and/or blackmailed them. The Defendant had performed the frauds around the globe, with investigations ongoing in Canada, Singapore and Denmark as well as elsewhere in the UK, at the time of Prosecution.
- Operation Milestone: Successful prosecution of 2 defendants for murder and 4 for assisting an offender. Case related to the gang related killing of the girlfriend of a rival gang member.
- R v Mroz: Successful defence of psychiatric patient charged with the murder of cell-mate.
- R v Taylor: Successful defence of nurse facing allegation of gross negligence manslaughter.
- R v Woolley: Defence of individual jointly charged with the ‘gang’ rape of a sex worker.
- R v McGrady: Defence of father charged with rape of his daughter aged 4-6 yo.
- Operations Arlen & Commix: Multi-handed prosecutions concerning ‘Sham Marriages’.
- R v Christie & Others: Defence of prison inmate charged with murder of a fellow inmate, cut-throat defence.
- R v Philpott, Philpott & Mosley: Prosecution of parents for the manslaughter of their six children caused by a fire they set as part of a plan to frame a former partner who had previously lived in the same address with them.
- R v Abraham: Defence of 17 yo Aspergers/ADHD sufferer for rape of a 12 yo.
- R v Hirsi: Defence of male alleged to have murdered a former police officer.
