Mark George QC

"...admired for being 'a very clear thinker'."

Chambers & Partners 2012

"gives excellent advice..."

Chambers & Partners 2011

"a ‘very thorough and safe pair of hands’..."

Legal 500 2010

"Solicitors praise Mark George for 'his mastery of a brief, knowledge of the law and rapport with the clients'."

Chambers and Partners 2009

"...enjoys a particularly privileged place in the region for 'the wealth of his experience and the regard he is held in'."

Chambers and Partners 2007

"acclaimed by peers for always being 'at the top of his game' ..."

Chambers and Partners 2006

Practice

Mark George Q.C. is a highly experienced defence trial advocate of more than 35 years call. He is regularly instructed in cases of murder, manslaughter, rape and other serious sexual cases. Before he took silk he was regularly briefed in serious cases of historic sexual assault, often representing teachers and carers. In silk he continues to defend in such cases. His extensive experience also includes many appearances in drug importation cases involving massive amounts of illegal drugs as well as other serious cases involving amongst others allegations of attempted murder.

Mark also has considerable experience of hearings before the Parole Board where he represents prisoners, particularly before lifer panels and has advised in many cases involving serving prisoners and their rights in areas such as sentence calculation and security categorisation. Mark undertakes judicial review work relating to prison law and criminal law such as challenges to decisions of the CCRC.

In addition to criminal work, as a junior Mark also undertook inquests on behalf of bereaved families often following deaths in custody. In December 2008 he represented the family of a man killed on a night out in Liverpool in 2003.

Mark is an opponent of the death penalty and has a strong interest in death penalty cases in the United States. He is currently Visiting Practitioner at the Centre for American Legal Studies at Birmingham City University and is on the editorial panel for the British Journal of American Legal Studies. In 1998 he worked pro bono in a capital murder trial in Texas where he assisted the local attorneys with the preparation of the case for trial. This involved being temporarily admitted as a member of the Texas Bar. Since that time he has been involved with Amicus , an organisation which trains young lawyers to undertake internships in the US assisting in death penalty trials and appeals. He regularly teaches at the Amicus training sessions in trial procedures in capital cases, jury selection and mitigation issues. He has also written a number of articles for the Amicus Journal on aspects of US death penalty law. In 2008 Mark became a trustee of the charity. Mark has been involved with writing Amicus Curiae briefs in two Supreme Court cases. In 2009 he assisted in writing a brief on behalf of the BHRC outlining the UK position on life sentences for young offenders in the UK in the case of Graham v. Florida where the challenge was against life without parole for those aged under 18. In 2011 he helped draft an amicus curiae brief in the case of Manuel Valle on death row in Florida for over 33 years in which he argued that comparison with the position in UK law showed that execution after such a length period on death row together with the failure to provide a meaningful clemency process would contravene international law standards more .

Mark is experienced in providing legal commentary for media broadcasters including BBC News, Radio 4 and 5 and ITV and he also regularly authors analysis and opinion articles in both the legal press and GCN criminal law updates .

Recent and notable cases

• Hanif & Khan v UK [2011] 296 ECHR Police officer's presence on jury made trial unfair. > news story / judgment
• R v Peter Wilson (Preston Crown Court - September 2011) Primary school teacher acquitted of sex assault charges on pupils. > news story
• R v Power (Manchester Crown Court - May 2011) Defended man accused of murder at a pub in Prestwich in July 2009.
• R v Thompson (Sheffield Crown Court - 2011) Represented defendant charged with rape of a woman walking her dog near Elsecar reservoir in S Yorkshire in 2010.
• R v Ogumbiyi & ors (Leeds Crown Court - February 2011) – attempted murder - following attack of Bosnian War criminal Radislav Krstic in his cell whilst serving sentence at HMP Wakefield > read BBC news coverage / read Guardian news coverage
• Morris, R (on the application of) v Criminal Cases Review Commission [2011] EWHC 117 (Admin) (07 February 2011) > news story / judgment
• R v Hughes [2010] EWCA Crim 1026 - life sentence quashed and hospital order under s. 37/41 of the Mental Health Act 1983 substituted > judgment
• R. (Mohammed Ali) v. Director of High Security [2009] EWHC 1732 (Admin) (Category A prisoners designated as either “high” or “exceptional” escape risk are entitled to be given sufficient reasons for the decision to maintain that status so as to enable them to decided whether to challenge that decision.) > news story/ judgment
• R v Thompson (Stafford Crown Court - September 2009) represented soldier charged with murdering his 21 month old stepson - Prosecution accepted plea to manslaughter > read BBC news item
• R v Hughes [2009]; [2010] 1 Cr. App. (S.) 25 EWCA Crim 841 – successfully argued that reference by Att. General does not extinguish defendant’s right to subsequently appeal on grounds of fresh evidence.
• R v Fields (Nottingham Crown Court - 2009) conspiracy to defraud the Revenue (£1.2m).
• R v Ian Price (Birmingham Crown Court – March 2009) acquitted of attempting to murder his wife by rigging up a device to start a fire during the night.
• R v Little (Chester Crown Court – November 2008) partial acquittal of teacher charged with serious sexual assault on pupil who developed a crush on him.
• R v Cooper (Sheffield Crown Court – October 2008) successfully defended man charged with attempted murder.
• R v Noel Matthews (Stafford C.C. – July 2008) jury failed to agree in case alleging multiple sexual assaults on step-daughter. No re-trial.
• R v Brereton and others (Sheffield C.C. – April 2008) Application to dismiss indictment against environmental protesters arrested in relation to campaign against widening of M1 motorway – upheld by judge.
• R v Bakish Khan and others [2008] EWCA Crim 531, The Times 07/04/08 (whether police officer who knows officers who are to give evidence can serve on juries) > news story / judgment
• R v Robinson (Manchester Crown Court - 2008) guilty plea to offence under s.113 Anti-Terrorism, Crime & Security Act 2001 (sending noxious thing likely to cause harm or intimidate) by alleged member of the SNLA who had sent packages containing caustic soda to two people. Sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.
• R v Omar Altimimi [2007] (offences under Terrorism Act; first trial in Manchester involving allegations of conduct linked to "Middle Eastern" terrorism) > news story
• R v S (Andrew) [2007] 1 W.L.R. 63; [2006] 2 Cr. App. R. 437 (introducing evidence of the bad character of the complainant).
• R v Ablewhite & ors (Nottingham Crown Court - 2006) the Staffordshire guinea pig farm case > news story
• R v AN (Birmingham Crown Court - 2006) - money laundering.
• R v Holliday; R v Leboutillier [2005] 1 Cr.App.R(s).349 (70) (nuisance phone calls by animal rights activists).
• R v AB [2005] (VHCC case).
• R v James Carragher [2004] (VHCC case, leading counsel) (buggery and indecent assault).
• A-G's Ref . Nos 58/66 of 2002 (R. v. Coudjoe and others) [2003] EWCA Crim 636 (on the levels of sentence for street gangs involved with firearms and drug supply).
• R.v. Khan (Umer) sub nom. R.v. Dad and others [2002] EWCA Crim 945; [2003] Crim L.R. 684 (regarding hostile witnesses).
• Mark was junior counsel in the case of R.v. Khan (Sultan) [1997] A.C. 558; [1996] 2 Cr. App. R. 440 in which the Crown sought to rely on evidence obtained from a covert listening device placed in a private home. The case exposed the lack of statutory regulation of surveillance at the time and forced the government to introduce legislation to put such activities by the police and security services on a statutory footing. This was achieved first through the Police Act 1997 (Part III) and then by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Recommendations

Crime - Northern Circuit - Silks (2012) "Mark George QC is at the same set and is admired for being "a very clear thinker." His recent work includes acting for the defence in R v Power, a case involving an accusation of murder in a Prestwich pub." Chambers & Partners 2012 more

Crime - Northern Circuit - Silks (2011) " Mark George QC of Garden Court North gives excellent advice and is noted for the frequency with which he undertakes pro bono work. His practice is strongly geared towards complex murder and conspiracy to murder cases." Chambers & Partners 2011 more

Crime - Northern Circuit (2010) "Mark George QC is a ‘very thorough and safe pair of hands’ for criminal defence work" Legal 500 2010 more

New silks in Crime : Northern (2010): "An 'excellent attorney' who just recently took silk, Mark George QC of Garden Court North has regularly appeared on behalf of teachers and carers accused of serious sexual assaults." more

Leading Junior in Crime : Northern (2009) "Solicitors praise Mark George for 'his mastery of a brief, knowledge of the law and rapport with the clients'.His practice is predominantly trial-based, and covers all serious criminal matters. He acted in R v Omar Altimini, the first trial in Manchester involving allegations linked to Middle Eastern terrorism." Chambers and Partners 2009 more

Leading Junior in Crime : Northern (2008) "...the very talented Mark George ..." Chambers and Partners 2008 more

Leading Junior in Crime : Northern (2007) "Garden Court North's Mark George enjoys a particularly privileged place in the region for 'the wealth of his experience and the regard he is held in.' He is best known for undertaking historical abuse cases and defending teachers. This year, however, he spent a good deal of his time involved in the Kingsway Hopsital Inquest into a number of deaths on the geriatric ward in the 1990s. He has also tackled a number of high-profile animal rights-related cases." Chambers & Partners 2007 more

Leading Junior in Crime : Northern (2006): "Representing Garden Court North is Mark George, acclaimed by peers for always being 'at the top of his game' and having cultivated an impressive serious crime practice." Chambers & Partners 2006. more

Articles and media comment

• 5/1/12 Rethinking double jeopardy - The Justice Gap
• 23/12/11 Manchester juror who skipped jury service - BBC national News at Six
• 21/12/11 "Long on policy, short on principle" analysis of Gnango (joint enterprise, crossfire shooting) Supreme Court judgment - The Justice Gap
• 4/10/11 Use of supergrass comes under scrutiny - Lexis Nexis Current Awareness
• 22/7/11 Householder using reasonabe force against intruder - ITV Granada Reports
• 16/6/11 Facebook juror trial - BBC Radio Manchester
• 17/3/11 Confiscation Proceedings: How to Admit Hearsay Evidence? - LexisNexis Current Awareness
• 28/1/11 Can illegal property be stolen? - LexisNexis Current Awareness
• 24/12/10 R v Major and Restraining Orders - LexisNexis Current Awareness
• 9/12/10 Reversing the burden of proof - LexisNexis Current Awareness
• 1/12/10 Reasonable grounds for suspicion - LexisNexis Current Awareness
• 27/10/10 Use of British-supplied drug in Arizona execution - BBC Radio 5 Live
• 7/6/10 Anonymity for those accused of rape - BBC Radio Manchester
• 12/11/09 Freed child rapist, 16, detained - BBC Radio Manchester
• 4/12/08 ECHR ruling on DNA samples - The Times
• 13/11/08 Pro-bono hero interviewed his work with Amicus (death penalty) - BBC Radio Sheffield
• 6/2/08 Use of intercept evidence in court cases - BBC Radio 4 PM programme
• Unreliable evidence (Low Copy Number DNA) - Independent Lawyer, February 2008 and comment in The Sunday Times 24/2/08
• 18/1/08 Explanation of bail following Gary Newlove case - BBC Radio Manchester
• 16/11/07 Explanation of criminal appeals process - BBC Radio Manchester
• 7/12/06 Juror's views in rape cases - BBC Radio Manchester

Editorial panel: British Journal of Americal Legal Studies

Professional Associations

Also a tenant at Garden Court Chambers , London.
Trustee of Amicus (Assisting Lawyers for Justice on Death Row).
Member of Manchester Prison Law Practitioners Group (MPLPG)

Personal profile

Mark determined to become a lawyer after seeing TV footage in the mid 1960s of American police officers beating civil rights demonstrators. He wanted to represent people fighting for their rights against the power of the state. Despite this he did not study law at university. Instead he read medieval history at Cambridge in the early 1970s and in his third year he decided that the chance to study Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic history was too great to resist. He spent part of that final year writing a dissertation on the Book of Durrow and the Book of Kells, two of the great illuminated Gospel books of early Ireland. Even today he retains a very keen interest in this subject.

Having qualified as a lawyer he joined a small radical set of chambers then located at the top of Farrer's Building in the Temple in London. Many of his first cases involved defending protesters arrested after a large anti-Nazi demonstration against the National Front in South London in 1977. Subsequently he has represented many protesters from political groups as well as miners, print workers, environmentalists and animal rights activists. In 1981 the chambers moved and became 2 Garden Court and has since grown to over 100 tenants. In 2006 these chambers moved to Lincoln's Inn and are now known as Garden Court Chambers. Although Mark's work is now entirely in the north of England he remains a member of the chambers at Garden Court in London.

Mark is determined to provide each client with an excellent service. He will take time to explain all the options to the client including the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the case and will be concerned to make sure that the client understands what is happening in the preparation of his/her case. He has a strong empathy with his clients and whilst providing a thoroughly professional service will also make the client feel relaxed and able to discuss his/her concerns. Mark will provide as strong and resolute a defence as possible and will endeavour to obtain the best possible outcome for every client. He is known for the thoroughness of his preparation in all cases.