The 36 Group

36 Crime

John Lloyd–Jones KC is a trial strategist, dedicated to the forensic analysis of evidence and passionate about the in-court examination of witnesses.

He is one of the most highly experienced, in–demand specialist Criminal Barristers defending and prosecuting on the Midland and South Eastern Circuits in high profile and multi-handed cases, including fraud, murder, cybercrime, fatal accidents and conspiracy.

Recent & ongoing cases

R v UF (2026 Aylesbury)

Murder. Prosecuting Defendant alleged to have been involved in fatal group revenge attack on young man in 2007.

R v CM & others (2026 Cambridge)

Murder / Manslaughter. Defending young Defendant prosecuted for killing victim by drowning him in nearby river.

R v MS & others (2026 Northampton)

Attempted Murder. Defendant convicted of attempted murder for trying to shoot child. Multiple shots fired at victim, during daytime in a public park. One shot hit victim but gun then jammed when offender tried repeatedly to shoot victim in the head. Offender then stabbed and kicked the victim before running away.

R v MP & others (2026 Cambridge)

Murder. Defending. Defendant charged, with others, with murdering elderly Polish man in his own home and then setting fire to the body and the house.

R v AGC & other respondents (2026 Court of Appeal)

Making submissions on behalf of 13 Respondents at Prosecution’s application to appeal Judge’s decision, at a preparatory hearing, to stay counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence (s.14(1) Sexual Offences Act 2023) for abuse of process (commission of the offences had been improperly instigated by two Police operations which amounted to entrapment) - [2026] EWCA Crim 220.

R v Paul Knight (2026 Northampton)

Murder. Defending. Defendant (good character) strangled his wife in family home while two young daughters slept downstairs. The couple were in the process of separating. Defendant had developed paranoia and obsession with pornography arising from cocaine addiction. After killing, he made unsuccessful attempts to kill himself. On day of trial, changing plea from guilty to Manslaughter (loss of control) to guilty to Murder.

R v Ace Hill & others (2025 Northampton)

Murder, Robbery & Aggravated Burglary. Defending (D1) 18-year old alleged to have been involved in nighttime spree of armed violence culminating in zombie-knife murder of a man in a local park. Securing acquittal on Aggravated Burglary and Robbery charges. Defendant (and D3) pleaded guilty to Murder – despite having both given evidence (cut-throat) – in sixth week of trial. Minimum term - 21 years.

R v Daniel Cook (2025 Leicester)

Murder / Manslaughter. Prosecuting mentally ill (paranoid schizophrenic) son who had brutally stabbed to death his elderly mother, first in the family home and then in a nearby residential street. Court received evidence from three psychiatrists as to Diminished Responsibility and sentence. “Hybrid” order imposed (s.45A Mental Health Act 1983).

R v Zeglovs (2025 Lincoln)

Murder. Prosecuting Latvian man who murdered his best friend by stabbing him in the throat with a broken bottle. Issue as to whether Defendant was having an epileptic episode at the time.

R v McLaggan (2025 Lincoln)

Murder. Prosecuting female Defendant for stabbing to death her ex-girlfriend after consuming drink and drugs.

R v Faraji (2025 Leicester)

Administering a destructive/noxious thing & Arson with intent to endanger life x 3: After a stand-off with the Police on the top floor of an occupied block of flats, the Defendant threw petrol onto a Police Officer. During a multi-phased incident, the Defendant threw more petrol onto numerous attending Firefighters which he then ignited, intending to endanger their lives and the lives of others.

R v Singh (2024 Leicester)

Murder. Defending man of good character accused of murdering (smothering) his elderly mother and then digging a shallow grave in which to hide her body. His defences at trial were total denial, alternatively diminished responsibility (delusional disorder) supported by oral evidence from three psychiatrists. Successfully arguing, on appeal, for reduction of minimum term from 31 years to 25 years (Singh [2025] EWCA Crim 1520).

R v JG & others (2024 Reading)

Murder & Attempted Murder. Prosecuting four Defendants (including 17-year old main offender) for machete murder and attempted murder of two 17-year old boys involved in rival county lines class A drugs operation in High Wycombe. Further allegation of s.18 Wounding with Intent (improvised weapon used against fellow inmate whilst main offender remanded in custody at HMP Bullingdon). Main offender convicted of Conspiracy to Rob, Murder, Attempted Murder and s.18. Other offenders convicted of Conspiracy to Rob, one of Manslaughter and a fifth Defendant for Assisting an Offender and drugs offences.

R v KDB (2024 Nottingham)

Murder. Prosecuting the Christmas Day knife murder trial of a 29-year old man by a 17-year old youth with whom he had had a minor disagreement in a nearby underpass. The stabbing had occurred in public near a busy road junction in Nottingham.

R v Newman (2024 Derby)

Murder, s.18 & Attempted s.18. Newman, in revenge, drove a 3-tonne van into a crowd of people enjoying a Christmas night out in Ilkeston town square in 2023. He killed one man and injured two others. Convicted after 3-week trial.

R v Brown (2024 Luton)

Murder. Prosecuting. Defendant convicted of Murder having beaten to death a sex worker in his own flat. After murdering the Deceased, the Defendant then hid her body - in his flat and then in his car - for 5 days before taking her to a quiet country lane where he set fire to her to destroy the body.

R v Basson (2024 Leicester)

Murder & firearms offences. Prosecuting 2-week trial before Mr Justice Martin Spencer. Defendant was convicted of Murder: Having fatally shot his girlfriend in the head at close range (with an illegally held semi-automatic handgun) he then falsely claimed accident.

OP Holyhead (2023 Nottingham)

Murder. Successfully prosecuting four Defendants for stabbing to death a man on day release from prison. The murder, which took place on a busy city centre street at night, was planned and targeted.

R v Clark (2023 Leicester)

Manslaughter. Defending 20 year old Defendant of good character accused of killing an older man who, in drink and for no reason, had approached him on a city centre street late at night. Death resulted, effectively, from freak injury sustained when Deceased went to the floor.

R v MS & others (2023 Derby)

Murder and s.18. Securing acquittal of young Kurdish asylum seeker alleged to have been involved, with four co-accused, in town centre fight with six other armed males. One man was killed and another seriously injured. The incident had arisen from a long-standing feud between the operators of two rival barber shops.

R v Phillips (2023 Northampton)

Manslaughter: Defending 19-year-old man charged with killing another young man in an impromptu fight in the street in broad daylight.

R v Karbauskas (2022 Lincoln)

Murder. Prosecuting Lithuanian Defendant for stabbing to death a member of his family with a large knife. Issue at trial was identity of the killer; main Prosecution evidence came from five ‘lay-listeners’ (relatives and associates of both the Defendant and the Deceased) who recognised their voices from a Nest audio recording that captured the events of the killing.

R v Sergiu Boianjiu (2022 Northampton)

Rape & Attempted Murder. Defending Moldovan man (previous conviction for Murder in Moldova) charged with ambushing young woman as she walked home from club in early hours of morning; brutally assaulting her; dragging her down an alleyway, raping her and then trying (unsuccessfully) to beat and stamp her to death.

R v Ben-Zur (2021 Bristol)

Money Laundering. Prosecuting (for CPS International Justice & Organised Crime Division, Birmingham Office) extradited Defendant for historic (2010-2014) laundering of proceeds - as banker and book-keeper - of cannabis importation operations. Coded ledgers revealed transactions involving 8,500 kilos of cannabis worth £9.3m.

OP Haxey (2020 Nottingham)

Murder. Prosecuting seven Defendants for their involvement in revenge machete murder of vulnerable drug addict during attempt to regain control of his flat that had been seized by rival Class A drug dealing gang.

OP Spruce (2020 Blackfriars & Inner London)

Money Laundering. Prosecuting (for West Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit) multi-handed conspiracy to export stolen cloned Range Rovers and Mercedes to Southern Africa and Far East.

R v Gamble (2018 Leicester / Central Criminal Court)

Cybercrime. Instructed by CPS International Justice & Organised Crime Division, London. Prosecuting Defendant (15/16 years old at the time) for hacking (‘social engineering’) into computers and communication accounts of Director of CIA, Deputy Director of FBI, Secretary of Homeland Security and other high-ranking US government and intelligence officials. Defendant was founding member of online collective “Crackas with Attitude”. He also gained unauthorised access to US Department of Justice and law enforcement networks.

Called (1993);

Head of Criminal Team, 36 Bedford Row (2011-2014);

KC (2013);

Panel Chair, Bar Tribunal & Adjudication Service (2019-2026).

Criminal Bar Association;

Midland & South-Eastern Circuits;

CEDR Mediator.

Eton College; University of Durham (1984-85 BA Hons Anthropology (2:2)); Polytechnic of Central London (1991-92 CPE (pass with commendation)); Inns of Court School of Law (1992-93 BVC (outstanding)).

Durham University;

Army Officer;

Polytechnic of Central London (CPE);

Inns of Court School of Law (Winner: Evered Ver Heyden Foundation Advocacy prize).