Criminal Defence in a murder case where travel to Portugal required: R-v-F

David Phillips and Partners sent criminal defence solicitors to Portugal to aid the defence of a client accused of murder.

F was charged with the murder of his ex-girlfriend. The prosecution alleged that F stabbed her over 20 times in a frenzied attack, acting under the influence of cannabis.

Our criminal solicitors recognised that F’s drug history was a key factor in the case. We obtained evidence from two leading clinical psychologists to support F’s defence of diminished responsibility and went to Portugal, where F grew up, to interview witnesses and clarify his drug history.

Unusually, David Phillips and Partners criminal solicitors attended the magistrates’ court in Portugal for the deposition of prosecution witnesses by the Examining Magistrate.