Gordon Cole KC

Call 1979
Silk 2006

colekc@exchangechambers.co.uk

"Juries love him."

Chambers and Partners 2024
Photo of Gordon Cole KC

Criminal

Gordon specialises in all serious crime including murder, manslaughter, drugs, fraud, police corruption and serious sexual abuse.

He has specialised in crime for over 40 years and has both prosecuted and defended in all types of cases as a junior, a leading junior and in Silk.

Gordon has been involved in many substantial drug, murder and fraud cases many of which have been VHCC cases.

He has conducted cases all over the country and has considerable experience in cases which have been heard in the Court of Appeal.

Ranked as a leader in his field by the independent legal directories he is described by instructing solicitors as “unflappable” and “outstanding” with “great judgement and common sense”.

Criminal Cases

GENERAL CRIME

R v Aaron Davies (2022) – successful defence of rap / grime artist facing charges of violence.

R v Ben Stokes (2018) – secured acquittal for England cricketer Ben Stokes in high profile affray case at Bristol Crown Court.

 

FRAUD

R v Moual Ibramin (2019) – conspiracy to import cigarettes/money laundering. Defendant was the main defendant indicted with fraudulently evading duty and money laundering of circa £12m.

R v Keith Williams (2017/18) – high profile fraud in Southwark Crown Court.

R v Daniel Barrs (2015) – defence in global Carbon Credit fraud.

R v Barrs (2015) – defence in MTIC / Carbon Credit fraud and money laundering allegation.

R v Manjra (2013) – huge MTIC £150 million fraud – 5 defendants – trial lasted over 6 months.

R v Richard Kemp (2010/11) – successfully defended in a pharmaceutical fraud which was the largest case of its type brought by the MHRA alleging huge importation of counterfeit pharmaceuticals (Croydon Crown Court).

R v Rashid and others (2010) – prosecuted election fraud (Leeds Crown Court).

Operation Talmine (2009) – election fraud from Bradford West with numerous defendants (Leeds Crown Court),

 

MURDER

R v Williams and others (2022) – prosecution of 9 defendants indicted with murder in internet cafe – Liverpool.

R v Thomas (2022) – manslaughter by Diminished Responsibility (Mold Crown Court).

R v Milburn (2022) – ‘who done it’ allegation of murder of Wife (Caernarfon Crown Court).

R v Zazai (2022) – supposed ‘Honour’ type killing (Leeds Crown Court).

R v Matthew Mason (2022) – killing of young man – high profile case in which it was alleged that the victim was blackmailing defendant (Chester Crown Court).

R v Kemar Simpson (2021) – alleged ‘gang ‘related acquitted of murder but convicted manslaughter (Manchester Crown Court).

R v Corson, Smith, Higgins and Moogan (2021) – complex investigation into the shooting and murder of man, case also included kidnap and robbery (Liverpool Crown Court).

R v Gary Soloman (2020) – defendant indicted in the murder of his friend in a frenzied attack after asking him for money (Chester Crown Court).

R v Arkadiusz Kaczmarek (2020) – defendant indicted in murder of man in a home they shared – defendant claims he was so drunk that he has no memory of what took place (Chester Crown Court).

R v Piotr Cichy (2020) – prosecuted a murder case in which a “violent bully” smothered and battered his partner to death. (Liverpool Crown Court)

R v Darren Taylor (2020) – prosecuted a 45-year-old man for murder at Preston Crown Court.

R v Sadaqat Ali and others (2019) – multi handed case involving 5 defendants indicted with murder.

R v Connor Cornforth (2019) – defendant was one of a group indicted with a joint offence of carrying out a shooting in which one person was killed and another injured.

R v David Pomphret (2019) – defendant was indicted with the killing of his wife with a crowbar after 20 years of a difficult marriage. Weapon and clothing was disposed of to try and avoid any responsibility before trying to ‘run’ manslaughter at court.

R v Curtis and Curtis (2019) – both defendants’ brothers indicted with murder of women at block of flats where she lived.

R v Burke (2018) – prosecuted a 31-year old Southport man for a pre-meditated and planned murder carried out in a “totally ruthless way”.

R v Salem (2018) – prosecuted a man who killed his wife and two children in Liverpool.

R v Evans and Lane (2018) – joint attack in pub in Blackpool. Victim died a day later whilst on holiday in Turkey from head injuries sustained during the altercation at the pub.

R v Arif and others (2016/17) – complicated by evidence from Pakistan via video link.

R v Sarah Williams and Katrina Walsh (2016) – represented Sarah Williams in high profile murder from Helmshore in Lancashire. Case heard at Preston Crown Court.

R v Daniel Johnston (2016) – represented 1 of 3 defendants indicted of murder of 14 year old boy. Particularly brutal killing in churchyard in Carlisle.

R v Hoyles (2015) – prosecuted defendant indicted with murder of woman – subject of BBC Two CPS documentary ‘The Prosecutors’.

R v Liptrot (2015) – represented defendant indicted with Gross Negligence Manslaughter as a result of him being both landlord and serving firefighter. A tenant had set fire to one of his homes killing 5 persons.

R v Stephen Duggan (2015) – prosecuted defendant indicted with the murder of a woman passer-by who stopped to assist in an argument between defendant and his partner.

R v Jervis (2014) – defence of drug / gang related killing.

R v David Ryan (2013) – defendant indicted with the murder of his girlfriend – lady who lived alone in Cheshire – alleging mutilation and murder as result of being forced to pay back monies he had conned from deceased.

R v Childs and Price (2013) – defendants charged and convicted of joint enterprise homicide.

R v Owen (2013) – double murder of partner and daughter.

R v Kenny (2013) – homicide by deliberately running over victim.

R v Ricky Jervis (2013) – drug related punishment killing.

R v Keith Rumbold (2012) – defended a man charged with murdering his wife who was ill with Alzheimer’s (Manchester).

R v Mark Done (2012) – successful defence of a man charged with murder in what is called a ‘no body murder’ (Chester Crown Court).

R v Howard & Cotterill (2012) – prosecuted two men in a murder by shooting (Manchester).

R v Ashleigh Robinson (2011) – defended woman charged with the pre-planned murder of her father (Mold Crown Court).

R v Andrew Daniels (2011) – successfully defended a man charged with attempted murder (Newcastle Crown Court).

R v Piotr Kruk (2011) – Polish defendant charged with murder – acquitted (Manchester Crown Court).

R v Colin Cain (2010) – defended high profile random murder of a young 15 year-old army cadet (Liverpool Crown Court).

R v Raeben Kareem (2010) – defence of murder and attempted murder of 2 others after imprisonment and torture by Kurdish Iraqi (Bradford Crown Court).

 

DRUGS/GUNS

R v Golubovskij (2014) – successful defence in Legal High Importation case.

R v Jewell (2013) – defendant indicted as part of the gang that lived and supplied drugs in Croxteth area of Liverpool – involving shootings / arson / drugs supply in prison.

R v Steven Cordwell (2011) – defended man charged with importation of 67 Glock pistols.

R v Liaqat Khan (2011) – successful defence of a man charged with a drug-related shooting (Manchester).

R v Stella Taylor (2009) – one of main defendants in very large drug importation case (Liverpool Crown Court).