James Ageros KC, Mark Balysz KC and Katie Sage secure acquittals in Fire Safety trial
Fire safety prosecution collapses on day two of eight-week trial at Chester Crown Court – four corporate defendants acquitted. Legal submissions were advanced on behalf of the defendants that the prosecution’s fire officers’ “expert evidence” was inadmissible due to an absence of independence, impartiality, and competence.
Having initially argued that the defendants’ arguments were baseless, after hearing oral submissions the prosecution conceded that they were right and offered no evidence on all counts on the indictment. HHJ Leeming stated that he would have ruled in the defendants’ favour in any event.
Mark Balysz KC, leading Katie Sage, instructed by Zoe Betts and Francesca Ledwith at Pinsent Masons, and James Ageros KC, leading Cassie Williams from 33 Bedford Row, instructed by Helen Simm at Browne Jacobson, represented two of the defendants. At the earlier dismissal stage Mark and Katie had successfully argued for the dismissal of four of six counts on the indictment.
