Kenneth Carr

Kenneth Carr qualified as a Solicitor in 1979 and has extensive experience of criminal and advocacy and litigation.

As a litigator he has led the preparation of complex cases including R –v- AAS and Others (Afghan Airlines Hijacking at Stansted Airport) and a wide range of other highly sensitive and high profile cases including international terrorism, international drug and fraud conspiracies and supergrass cases.

As an advocate Kenneth is frequently asked to advise or represent lawyers throughout the world on UK law and procedure.  He has extensive experience of representing clients charged with violent crime, serious fraud cases (particularly white-collar crime), Revenue and Customs fraud and regulatory work.

Kenneth was shortlisted for the Law Society Award for Advocacy in 2012 and is the co-author of The Law Society’s Handbook of Road Traffic Law.  He was appointed as one of the three Legal Aid Commissioners to the International Criminal Law and is a Board Member of the International Criminal Defence Attorneys Association.

Kenneth was appointed as a Recorder in 2010 and he regularly lectures at international conferences on terrorism, white-collar crime and UK law and procedure.

Kenneth also specialises in Data Protection Issues involving the Right to be Forgotten, the retention and removal of criminal records and the deletion of Interpol Red Notices.

Notable cases

R –v- AAS and Others

This case involved the hijacking of an aircraft in Afghanistan that was then flown to the United Kingdom via Russia. The defendants were arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, detained and interviewed at a Police Station over a five day period.  The four defendants that Kenneth represented could not speak English and all instructions had to be taken through a Farsi speaking interpreter.  The clients faced two trials that both lasted for over two months.  During the course of preparing for these trials, the defence team interviewed witnesses in Pakistan, France and Holland.

R –v- RG

The case involved the defence of an Animal Rights Activist who was charged with conspiring to cause criminal damage to a Vivisection Clinic.  After a six month trial which involved Jury protection, our client was acquitted.

R –v- S and Others

Kenneth appeared before trial Judge HHJ Joseph QC as junior advocate alone.  The case involved an allegation of conspiracy to commit armed robbery namely a large number of cash in transit raids on security vans.  Significant case features included the fact that this was a high profile case that featured on Crimewatch and was extensively reported in the press.  The cross-examination of Robbery Squad Officers include the allegations that they manufactured surveillance evidence. Kenneth won a legal argument to exclude bad character evidence about a conviction for possession of a firearm.  After a two month trial our client was acquitted.

R –v- X

Kenneth appeared as a junior advocate alone. The case involved an allegation of historic rape and indecent assault allegations dating back over 24 years.  Significant case features included the fact that the Complainant was considered extremely vulnerable and as a result had undergone years of counselling about the matters that were being tried. Sensitive and painstaking cross-examination by Kenneth led to acceptance by the Complainant that she could not be sure of penetration.  Kenneth was commended by HHJ Sheridan at Aylesbury Crown Court for his handling of this very vulnerable witness in cross-examination and his overall conduct of the advocacy in this case indicating to the Jury “that they had just witnessed a master class in advocacy”.   The client was acquitted of all counts of rape on the indictment.

R –v- L

Kenneth appeared as a junior advocate alone to represent an Olympic canoeing coach charged with historic rape and indecent assault on a 13 year old athlete in 1989.  Significant case features were that the now adult Complainant was so damaged by the defendant’s behaviour that she was hospitalised and was a high suicide risk.  Kenneth dealt with extensive but sensitive cross-examination of this Complainant.  Our client was now a paraplegic as a result of a riding accident.  The Prosecution called an Olympic athlete who gave evidence by video link from New Zealand whilst the defence called for Olympic athletes to give evidence on behalf of our client who was acquitted of the central rape allegations.

See: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2153309-Olympic-canoe-coach-sexually-abused-promising-pupil-13-ending-dreams

R –v- DD

Kenneth appeared before trial Judge HHJ Wide QC as a junior advocate and was led by Simon Mayo QC in a murder – gangland execution.  The case involved a cut throat defence by our client who had previous convictions for manslaughter and grievous bodily harm.  After an eight week trial, our client was convicted.

See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17240891

R –v- P

Kenneth appeared before trial Judge HHJ Roberts QC as junior advocate and was led by Michael Borrelli QC in this high profile murder case. This was a fraud related murder described by the Judge as more like a complex fraud rather than a murder.  It involved a very contentious cut throat defence.  There was a change of leading Counsel two weeks before the trial was due to start which meant considerable reliance and responsibility was placed on the junior advocate, Kenneth Carr.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanos_Papalexis