Michael Duck

Member of the Criminal and Regulatory groups

Areas of speciality:- national specialist in serious/serious organised crime, cybercrime (including lecturing), serious complex fraud and regulatory work. Cases both in the UK and Commonwealth jurisdictions (private and legally aided). Instructed by Complex Casework Units and solicitors around the country.

Appeared in some of the country’s most well-known cases throughout his career including the appeal of Jeremy Bamber, the prosecution of Burger Bar members for the killing of Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare – the so-called “New Year’s Day Shootings”, the representation of one of the “M40 Bikers” for murder, successful representation of a man accused of murder during the Birmingham riots and of a man accused of abduction and murder of a policeman’s daughter involving a nationwide manhunt, representing the world-renowned surgeon accused of signing his patients’ livers during surgery (R v Bramhall – Dec 2017). More recent instructions include R v Carpenter et al involving the prosecution of the murder of the young footballer in the so-called Cube Night Club case (Jan 2024) which attracted much media attention.

Serious organised crime cases include:- R v Shaw (October 2022 - July 2023) nine month trial representing a financial adviser accused of involvement in a “Ponzi” type financial services scheme: R v Maochleb et al (Southwark Crown court main trial Jan - Mar 2022, May – June 2022, September 2022 ongoing trials in 2023) prosecution of large scale cigarette importation using evidence from outside the jurisdiction: R v Moore et al (June - Oct 2021 main trial and several sub-trials into 2022 ) ten handed conspiracy to possess firearms and large scale supply of drugs – complications arising from Covid 19 restrictions during and affecting the running of the trial.

Excellent track record in both achieving successful murder prosecutions:- R v Haines and Widget instructed by York CCU both defendants convicted of the kicking to death of a man in the street (Oct- Nov 2022): R V Edwards et al gang shooting of a 14 year old child rendering him paraplegic (June - Aug 2022): R v Willington (April - May 2022) stabbed his friend/ associate multiple times on a supermarket car park. Defence acquittals include:- R v SM ( Dec 2021 a man accused of conspiracy to murder a 15 year old boy with a firearm: R v CB (Feb 2022) successful representation of a young offender/ vulnerable witness requiring an intermediary jointly accused of a knife murder of another child.

Experienced both in trials involving vulnerable witnesses:-  R v Ashraf (Sheffield Crown Court April - June 2023) representation of an 18 year old male in a drug related torture murder: R v T et al (January 2022) advice given from the pre-charge stage, multi handed-case involving grooming and exploitation of young female complainants: (R v Dhaliwahl – Jan – April 2018) representation of the first defendant in a multi-handed historic grooming and trafficking trial in Leeds, involving cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses on behalf of all the defendants in the trial (following the Bradford “grooming” trial ruling), and in murder trials involving young offenders:-  R v Edwards et al ( June – August 2022): R v Ugochukwu ( Oct- Nov 2021) representation of an 18 year old at the time of trial jointly accused with others including a 14 and 16 year old of a knife and firearm murder of a 15 year old male: R v Tampwo (Oct 2020 - Jan 2021) successful prosecution of a four handed fatal stabbing with a 15 year old victim and four young defendants.

Recent instructions include:- R v Naysmith (Sept 2023) prosecution of the murder of the defendant’s associate involving significant health matters:- R v Clarke (October 2023) prosecution of a fourth defendant charged in the R v Edwards (June – August 2022) see above case following advice by counsel: R v Nguyen et al (Bristol Crown Court Oct - Nov 2023) instructed by Wessex CCU to prosecute a multi-million pound organised crime importation of drugs; R v Carpenter et al Cube Night Club footballer murder  ( Jan - Feb 2024).

Particular expertise in cell site and technical evidence resulting in instructions on many large-scale multi-handed conspiracies to supply drugs and conspiracies to murder.

Publications: DPP guidelines for the Prosecution of Organised and Gang Crime;

Lecturer in Cayman Islands at an International Financial Crime and Regulatory Compliance Seminar.

Direct access accredited.

Advocacy trainer beyond UK jurisdiction