David Birrell Successfully Deploys ‘Modern Slavery’ Defence

November 19, 2020

David Birrell has successfully deployed the statutory defence provided by s.45 Modern Slavery Act 2015.  Instructed by ABR Solicitors, Mr Birrell represented a Vietnamese national who was charged with producing vast quantities of cannabis.  Despite the Home Office finding that the Defendant was not trafficked or compelled to grow cannabis,  Mr Birrell advised that the modern slavery defence was still viable.  In doing so, Mr Birrell called upon his experience of previous cases in which he also successfully relied upon the defence.  On Mr Birrell’s advice, the defence commissioned an expert report which caused the Crown to make important admissions that assisted the defence.   At trial, Mr Birrell resisted the Crown’s attempt to admit the Home Office decision.  The jury returned a not guilty verdict within 30 minutes.

Mr Birrell specialises in Crime and Professional Discipline.  He is frequently instructed in cases of serious drug trafficking.  He will shortly begin back-to-back trials arising out of what is believed to be the largest ever importation of Class A drugs into the the UK.