Doughty Street Chambers

Criminal Law and Appeals

Joe Stone KC has specialised in criminal defence for over 30 years.  He was called to the Bar in 1989 and appointed Queens Counsel (QC) in 2013.

He represents those indicted with all types of homicide (murder, manslaughter, death by reckless/careless driving and infanticide), large scale international drug conspiracies and top tier organised crime. He is also instructed privately in high profile sex allegations and has secured acquittals in the most complex of cases.

His primary focus is trial work and high profile appeals. He is currently instructed on one of the most notorious alleged miscarriages of justice in English criminal history – the Jeremy Bamber case.  He has successfully represented over many years those indicted with murder under the joint enterprise rules in major city gang related stabbings, shootings and executions. He has conducted over 200 murder trials and is recognised in the directories as a leader in this field.

Joe has a reputation as a committed and tenacious defence barrister with a proven track record in murder defences.

He is highly skilled in advancing complex pro-active defences in the most demanding of cases with the most challenging of clients.

He has been constantly instructed by high profile defendants (see Homicide and Grave offences category below)

He has extensive understanding of the operations of Category A dispersal prisons (HMP Belmarsh, HMP Frankland, HMP Full Sutton, HMP Wakefield, HMP Whitemoor and HMP Woodhill), Close Supervision Centres (CSC) and the Special Intervention Unit (SIU) at HMP Manchester. Given the wide geographical reach of these prisons (London, Newcastle, York, Wakefield, Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Manchester) he has extensive experience of the issues surrounding homicide on the prison estate.

He has specialist expertise in defending individuals suffering from extreme personality disorders and is knowledgeable on the procedures/systems that operate at the three main high security psychiatric hospitals - Broadmoor, Rampton and Ashworth.

He is skilled in presenting highly technical expert evidence to juries in a clear and lucid manner in the fields of forensic psychiatry, forensic pathology and forensic medicine.  He  has been regularly published in the specialist criminal journals (see Publications)

Year of Call: 1989; Inner Temple; registered Pupil Supervisor with the Inner Temple since 2004; Year of Silk: 2013.

Joe is particularly interested in cases where scientific and medical evidence is disputed such as allegations of shaken baby syndrome and unexplained deaths in infants (SIDS).

He has a detailed knowledge of all facets of criminal investigation including cell site analysis, gunshot residue (GSR) analysis, facemapping, shoe-lift and key areas of trace evidence – fingerprints and DNA and has appeared in leading appeal cases in some of these areas (see Appeals)

With over 30 years experience in representing those indicted with serious class A drug importations Joe understands the operational techniques and practices utilised by Her Majesty Revenue and Customs (HMRC).  He represents "drug supergrasses" and is familiar with the rules and procedures surrounding Witness Protection Units (WPU), law enforcement debriefing procedures and immunity/inducement packages under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 and in camera (closed/secret) hearings. He has represented diplomats facing allegations of drug importation and is familiar with the rules/procedures concerning diplomatic immunity.

Member of Panel of Defence Counsel at The International Criminal Court (ICC)

Criminal Bar Association

Fair Trials International

Howard League For Penal Reform

Hibiscus

Member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) approved legal panel

Specially Approved under the Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA) Programme to conduct sensitive cases involving Vulnerable Witnesses

Hammersmith and West London College; Manchester University (1985 BA (Joint Hons) First Class Politics and Philosophy).