Criminal
Anthony Metzer KC is a highly-regarded silk in criminal defence work with considerable appellate and Privy Council experience, particularly in regards to cases of serious sexual and physical violence. He also specialises in fraud and money laundering allegations and has substantial experience in health and safety prosecutions.
His criminal practice includes high profile cases such as the recent ‘Nigella Lawson Case’, where he successfully represented the first of two sisters charged with defrauding their employers, Ms Lawson and Charles Saatchi.
Anthony is consistently recommended in Chambers & Partners and has recently been described in the 2018 edition as a “devastating cross-examiner”. He is presently listed in the categories of Crime (Band 3 – Silk) and in Police Law – mainly Claimant (Band 2 – Silk). Chambers & Partners notes that Anthony frequently acts in claims against the police for false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, misfeasance and assault. He offers particular experience in human rights cases and has been instructed to act against the police and local authorities. His strengths are: “he is very nice on a personal level, always willing to help and is very responsive” and “he has impressive advocacy skills and is excellent with clients.”
Chambers & Partners has also detailed that Anthony acted in a claim against the Police of the Metropolis, a claim under Articles 3 and 8 of the Human Rights Act arising out of the disappearance and subsequent suicide of a mentally ill man.
His expertise has also been recognised by the Legal 500 2017 edition, where he is recommended as a Leading Silk in Band 2 in crime as ‘a well-prepared, thorough and engaging advocate – his legal arguments are consistently impressive’ and as a Leading Silk in Band 3 in the civil liberties and human rights category as being “well known in the field, especially in claims against the police.”
Criminal Cases
R v Beadman: (2016) Nottingham Crown Court: Leading counsel in defending the murder, rape and false imprisonment of a school girl. Highly publicised case.
R v Dalli: (2016) Manchester Crown Court: 17-year old boy successfully defended on allegation of conspiracy to murder.
R v Khan: (2016) Manchester Crown Court: Leading counsel defending a husband accused of the murder of his wife.
R v Jason Podesta: (2016) Chichester Crown Court: Allegation of historic rape.
R v Ledesma: (2016) Southwark Crown Court: Leading counsel defending a nurse accused of unlawful killing after she transferred the wrong type of blood to the deceased. Re-trial in November 2016.
R v Hoyle: (2015) Chester Crown Court: Leading counsel defending in a brutal murder trial, known as the ‘Facebook Reunion Murder’, featuring in the BBC documentary, ‘The Prosecutors’.
R v Jordan Daley: (2015) Central Criminal Court: Leading counsel in murder trial.
R v Purkins & Others: (2014) Central Criminal Court: Leading counsel defending in a case involving the death a private gym user after consuming ‘DNP’, a toxic pesticide.
R v Grillo: (2013) Alleged fraud of Charles Saatchi and Nigella Lawson . (Isleworth Crown Court)
R v Zinkevicius: (2013) Leading Counsel in murder trial. (Central Criminal Court)
R v Galimore: Rape.(Bristol Crown Court)
R v Konigshofer: (2012) conspiracy to rape in the Haredi community. (Wood Green Crown Court)
R v McGrath: (2009) vast money-laundering allegation. The client was a former Deputy Chairman of Preston Borough Council. (Manchester Crown Court)
R v Lockley: manslaughter. Winchester Crown Court
R v Hough: largest flying squad conspiracy to rob. Acted alone against silk and junior. Kingston Crown Court.
R v Etchu-Abangma: (2009) Health and Safety prosecution concerning death of vulnerable young person in care home. Wood Green Crown Court.
R v Gomulu: (2009) murder. Central Criminal Court and Court of Appeal.
