[photo] Tom Mackinnon (1982)Tom Mackinnon (1982)

Team

Crime

Education

LL.B., LL.M. University of Sheffield

Practice

Tom practises exclusively in criminal defence work. He has particular expertise in serious cases including murder, armed robbery, drugs, fraud, public order offences, rape and sexual offences, terrorism, and anti-fox hunting and animal rights cases. Tom is regularly instructed as leading Counsel in serious criminal trials.

A selection of Tom’s more important cases include:

  • the Brighton Bombing and Seaside Bombing conspiracy case;
  • R. v. Randle and Pottle (trial of those accused of assisting the escape of Soviet spy, George Blake, from HMP Wormwood Scrubs);
  • the Billie Piper stalking and death threats trial;
  • the Victoria Beckham conspiracy to kidnap case;Thomas O’Rourke (HMP Parkhurst riot trial);
  • Yirtici (PII – disclosure of police informer, appeal against conviction);
    Shehlan Awan (police corruption trial);
  • Nealis (biased summing-up, appeal against conviction);
  • Obellim (secret communications between Judge and jury, appeal against conviction);
  • Eddy Biharanduka (admissibility of evidence of defendant being HIV positive in his trial for rape, appeal against conviction);
  • Ajit Singh Dehal (freedom of expression in trial of a charge of section 4A Public Order Act 1986, appeal in the Divisional Court by way of case stated).

Tom has frequently appeared in the Court of Appeal in appeals against conviction and sentence where original Counsel had advised against appeal.

Profile

Tom has had articles and case summaries published in legal journals. He has lectured in criminal law and criminal procedure at the Polytechnic of Central London (now Westminster University).

Tom lectured on abuse of process in criminal cases for the Law Society (recorded at Channel 4 studios and available on video for practitioners).

Tom speaks Russian.

His interests include travel.

Examples of recent work

R v K & Others - 3 month multi handed high profile terrorism trial at Kingston Crown Court

R v Z & 7 Others - 3 week multi handed high profile people trafficking conspiracy at Worcester Crown Court

R v S & Others - 2 week multi handed burglary at Snaresbrook Crown Court

R v G - Large aggravated burglary at Reading Crown Court

R v H - Indecent Assault at Inner London Crown Court

R v G - 2 week multi handed violent disorder at Blackfriars Crown Court

R v A - 3 week rape at Snaresbrook Crown Court

R v M - Large scale ABH at Huntingdon Crown Court

R v N - Complex deception case at Snaresbrook Crown Court

R v Amin & Others - Leading counsel to Neelim Sultan also at 1MCB in a large high profile case where our client was acquitted of possession with intent to supply class C at Winchester Crown Court

R v W - Serious GBH case at Blackfriars Crown Court