Peter Killen

Call 2015

killen@exchangechambers.co.uk

Photo of Peter Killen

Criminal

Peter is a highly experienced advocate with a burgeoning criminal practice. After a successful career as a solicitor, where he was a partner at a top criminal law firm and Head of the Advocacy Department, he recently transferred to the Bar.

After qualifying as a Higher Courts Advocate in 2007, Peter has been employed as a full-time advocate since, routinely instructed in long running cases involving murder, serious sexual offences, drugs and other serious crime. He has appeared for the defence and conducted numerous trials, sentence hearings, and other interim hearings. He has appeared in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division on many occasions making applications to appeal both against sentence and conviction. Peter is a Category 3 Prosecutor and a member of the specialist CPS Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Panel.

With extensive experience as a specialist criminal litigator, Peter has recognised strengths in preparing complex cases for trial and in particular analysing and challenging complicated scientific, expert and telephonic evidence. With a reputation for hard work and a forensic attention to detail, Peter is able to bring his skills to the fore when representing his clients.

Criminal Cases

R v V:

Represented (Junior) one of seven defendants in a six week trial concerning a large scale conspiracy to produce cannabis.  The defence case was that the defendant was the victim of Modern Slavery and relied upon this new statutory defence.

R v S:

Represented (Junior) defendant charged with sexual assault and indecent assault against two different members of his family. The complaint was supported by other family members against the defendant. Acquitted after an 8 day trial.

R v O:

Represented (Junior) defendant charged with multiple allegations of historic sexual abuse.

R v O:

Represented (Junior) defendant charged with two offences of rape against separate woman. This case involved bad character relating to “fantasy rape” pornography recovered from the computer of the defendant and contested expert forensic imagery evidence.

R v B:

Represented (Junior) the first defendant of three defendants facing an allegation of conspiracy to commit robbery. The conspiracy related to a number of bank robberies. Cross examination of the prosecution expert led to a successful submission of no case to answer.

R v B:

Represented (Junior) the defendant charged with wounding with intent. The defendant and his father were householders who had detained a suspected burglar. Defendant acquitted.

R v F:

Represented (Led Junior) defendant charged with murder that occurred in the course of a robbery when the victim died almost a year after the initial offence. The case involved extensive expert evidence relating to the issue of causation. The defendant was acquitted of murder after trial.

R v J:

Represented (Led Junior) a defendant charged with murder in the course of a robbery. This was a three defendant joint enterprise case in which the first and second defendants blamed each other for causing the death. The defendant was acquitted of murder after trial.

R v S:

Represented (Led Junior) defendant charged with murder. This was a gang- related contract killing. This was a 3 ½ month trial involving four defendants and complex issues of expert telephonic evidence.

R v B:

Represented (Led Junior) a defendant charged with murder. This was a ‘cold case review’. The prosecution was based on complex, mixed. partial DNA profiles recovered from the deceased and cutting edge DNA statistical evaluation and computer modelling of that evidence. The defendant was acquitted after a 4 week trial.

R v L:

Represented (Junior) defendant charged with two allegations of rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm against a single complainant. The allegation was that the complainant had been falsely imprisoned, assaulted and raped. Five other defendants charged with the assault offences pleaded guilty. The defendant was acquitted.

R v T:

Represented (Junior) defendant charged with participating in a ‘cash in transit’ robbery. The case was dismissed after a submission that the DNA evidence was insufficient to establish a case to answer.

R v J:

Represented (Led Junior) charged with conspiracy to possess firearms with intent, conspiracy to supply drugs and conspiracy to commit arson with intent. Representing the first defendant on the Indictment in a 12 week trial. The trial continued whist Leading Counsel was absent for two days including cross examination of witnesses on behalf of the defendant.

B v W:

Represented (Junior) defendant charged with Conspiracy to supply cocaine. The defendant was acquitted after a two week trial.

R v K:

Represented (Junior) defendant charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. This offence attracted some regional media attention as it concerned a member of HM Courts Service falsely removing penalty points from the DVLA driver records of his ‘customers’ for payment. The defendant was acquitted after 4 week trial., the only defendant of 31 charged who was not convicted.

R v P:

Represented (Led Junior) defendant charged with joint enterprise murder after a fight at a retail park. Complex expert evidence on the issue of causation. The conviction has recently been quashed by the Court of Appeal.

R v H: Represented (Junior) defendant charged with over 20 offences of historic sexual abuse of his children.

R v M: Represented (Led Junior) defendant charged with murder. The defendant had a previous conviction for murder. After a guilty plea conducted the sentence as Leading Counsel was unavailable on the day.

R v P:

Represented (Junior) defendant charged with conspiracy to handle stolen goods. This case concerned an industrial scale ‘car ringing’ operation. Defendant acquitted after a 4 week trial.

R v B:

Represented (Led Junior) defendant charged with murder. This was an eight defendant of joint-enterprise murder arising from a feud between drugs gangs. This was a complex 3 month trial.

R v S:

Represented (Junior) defendant charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine. This was a regional crime squad investigation concerning the supply of drugs from Liverpool to Birmingham in wholesale quantities. The defendant was acquitted after a trial lasting 2 months.

R v G:

Represented (Junior) the defendant charged with two offences of rape and also sexual assault. The defendant was acquitted.