Brian Cummings Q.C.
Practice:
Brian is a specialist criminal practitioner with over 20 years’ experience, both prosecuting and defending in the Crown Court. His practice has spanned the full gamut of criminal offending but with particular emphasis over the last 7 years or so on murder and organised crime (multi-handed drugs/firearms conspiracies and fraud).
In addition to domestic practice, he has also appeared in criminal cases in the Falkland Islands, on St Helena (prosecuting the first murder trial there in over 20 years) and on the Isle of Man.
Notable cases in last 2 years:
As a silk
(currently) Instructed to prosecute 15-handed hydrocarbon fraud starting in Liverpool Crown Court in the autumn.
(July/August 2010) R v Hisamuddin Ibrahim & others. Preston Crown Court. Prosecuted 4-handed double murder by arson (so-called “honour” killing). All defendants convicted of both murders after 5-week trial.
(2009/2010, various) R v Michael Hailwood & others (“Operation Greengage”). Liverpool Crown Court. Prosecuted complex 25-handed conspiracy to bring Class A drugs and firearms into the UK from continental Europe and South America. 3 trials completed so far, with one still to come. 24 defendants now convicted, with aggregate sentences totalling 400+ years.
(November 2009) R v Graham Heaps. Liverpool Crown Court. Arson murder of 3-year old child. Prosecuted 4-week trial. Guilty of murder.
(July 2009) R v George Moon & others. Liverpool Crown Court. Prosecuted 7-handed conspiracy to import cocaine from South America into the UK and the Republic of Ireland (orchestrated by serving prisoners). Main defendant sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment.
(2009, various) R v Robert Davidson. Carlisle Crown Court. Defended man charged with murdering his wife. Guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Hospital order.
(November 2008) R v Robert Wilson. Carlisle Crown Court. “Cumbrian tractor murder”, concerning a farmer who murdered his wife for the insurance money and then attempted to portray the killing as a farm accident. Prosecuted 4-week trial. Guilty of murder.
(October 2008) R v Jason Bolton & Andrew Smith. Manchester Crown Court. Unprovoked killing of defenceless Asian man by two teenagers. Prosecuted 3-week trial. Both guilty of murder.
(June 2008) R v Kidd, Mason & Burdon. Preston Crown Court. Prosecuted. Brutal murder of vulnerable elderly man. Attempt by one defendant to vacate guilty plea successfully resisted both in the Crown Court and on appeal.
As a junior
(Jan/Feb 2008) R v Damien O’Connor & others (“Operation Capote/Medlar”). Liverpool Crown Court. Prosecuted complex 12-handed Class A drugs conspiracy resulting from the merger of 2 separate investigations. All defendants convicted. Conviction appeal by main defendant successfully resisted (see R v O’Connor, The Times, 19th July 2010)
Personal:
Education: MA (Law), Trinity College, Cambridge
Inn: Lincoln’s
Appointments:
2008 : Silk
2005 : Recorder
1992/3 : Junior of the Northern Circuit
Memberships of Professional Bodies: Criminal Bar Association
