A judge has been forced to halt a serious fraud trial as a number of the defendants were unable to find representation due to the recent cuts to legal aid.
Judge Anthony Leonard told Southwark Crown Court that there was “no realistic prospect” of a fair trial as the defence could not find a suitable barrister for such a complex fraud case due to the cuts to legal aid funding.
The judge’s decision followed an argument by Alex Cameron QC, David Cameron’s brother, that the trial could not proceed as the state had failed to provide adequate representation. He argued that there are only a finite number of Queen’s Counsel barristers available, and independent barristers are refusing to take on the cases for the current fees on offer. Cameron was already representing some of the defendants free of charge.
The case concerned the activities of Plott UK Ltd, European Property Investments Ltd, and Stirling Alexander Ltd, which the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) allege fraudulently took more than £5 million form UK investors between 2008 and 2011.
