Nina Grahame

"conscientious and ahead of the game"

UK Legal 500 2007

"...a first class advocate and takes time with the client to listen and fully understand the client's position..."

Instructing solicitor 2008

Practice

Criminal law
Nina is a criminal defence practitioner of considerable experience. As junior counsel she has appeared in numerous murder cases. As leading junior counsel, she has been instructed in manslaughter, drugs, fraud and cases involving allegations of serious violence and sexual impropriety. She has extensive Court of Appeal experience.

She has a particular interest in issues arising from the prosecution and detention of young people and those with learning or mental health difficulties or otherwise seen as vulnerable

Nina has also defended in numerous cases involving children as alleged victims and/or witnesses, including prosecutions under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (causing/allowing the death of a child). She has extensive experience in the complex issues relating to concurrent High Court family proceedings, including Hague Convention proceedings (abduction).

Nina is also frequently briefed to defend where allegations arise in the course of the defendant's professional life, including instructions by solicitors approved by the National Union of Teachers to defend their members. Such cases have included one of the earliest prosecutions for religiously aggravated assault, where a senior teacher was acquitted of assaulting a female pupil. > read BBC news item

Recent cases:

• R v Gnango, [2010] EWCA Crim 1691 (2010) - Murder conviction quashed in crossfire shooting appeal > news story and judgment
• R v Richards (2009) - Represented an elderly defendant acquitted of numerous allegations of historical sexual assaults on his young nephew and another complainant dating back some 35 years.
• R v Inman (2009) - Represented a young mother jointly indicted with her partner for the murder of their 6 week old baby and for causing/allowing the child’s death in the alternative. The mother alone was eventually acquitted of murder after retrial. Some 20 expert witnesses provided complex evidence on a broad range of diverse medical and psychiatric issues, including battered women’s syndrome.
• R v Scott (2009) - Defendant indicted for historical sexual abuse against complainants from 2 generations of his family. Leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal now granted relating to the admissibility of bad character evidence and ‘satellite litigation’.
• R v Mohamed (2009) - Murder. One of 3 Class A drug dealers accused of the revenge murder of one of a rival group of dealers.
• R v Overton (2009) - Rape. Defendant acquitted after trial of the rape of an unconscious young woman.
• Appeal against 2004 convictions allowed on referral from the Criminal Cases Review Commission [2009]. > news story
• R v Nasuna [2009] EWCA Crim 880 (out of time appeal of extended licence period) > news story and judgment
• R v Armel Gnango (2008) crossfire murder > read BBC news item
• Defendant convicted of manslaughter after trial for the murder of a teenager. This case led directly to the issue of knife detectors to every school in Southampton, the first UK city to adopt such a practice. > read BBC news item
• Represented defendants in 2 separate murder trials relating to the killing of their wives. These cases gave rise to sensitive issues of disclosure, particularly in relation to liaison between family members and the police. > read BBC news item / Times article
• Represented 1 of 2 Household Cavalry officers acquitted of the multiple rapes of a teenager.
• Represented the father accused of causing multiple injuries to his 6 week old daughter resulting in serious permanent brain damage.
• Historical paedophile case involving 3 male complainants under 16.
• Represented a young teenager acquitted of the attempted murder of a police officer shot and wounded following a car chase in South London

Prison law
All aspects of prison law are undertaken including including Adjudications, Parole Board hearings and Lifer panels.

Civil actions against the police
Has a developing interest in civil actions against the police and other detaining authorities. Extensive experience in criminal cases of misfeasance in public office, unlawful detention, wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution claims on behalf of vulnerable clients. Has extensive experience in criminal cases involving human rights and civil liberties issues. Undertakes Judicial Review work, in particular that arising out of criminal proceedings, prison and ASBO proceedings.

Military law
Court Martial experience

Recommendations

Leading junior in crime (2007) described as "conscientious and ahead of the game" UK Legal 500 2007 edition.

Other activities

Regular attendance on specialist seminars relating to sexual offences.

Has undertaken specialist training in the use of intermediaries for witnesses in criminal trials.

Member of Manchester Prison Law Practitioners Group (MPLPG)