Lucia Coerman and Creanna Dodson successfully raise issues in relation to hearsay evidence in stolen goods trial

This week, Lucia Coerman and Creanna Dodson represented two defendants jointly charged with handling stolen goods in proceedings at Luton Crown Court, successfully raising issues in relation to hearsay evidence.

The case, which first commenced in 2021, had been listed for trial on three separate occasions before finally reaching a resolution.

At the heart of the matter was the Crown’s intended reliance on hearsay evidence, despite having failed to serve the required hearsay application in advance of trial. On the day of the hearing, defence counsel raised objections, alerting the prosecution that any such evidence would be subject to challenge.

Following discussions with the Reviewing Lawyer, the prosecution acknowledged the significant procedural and evidential hurdles they faced. Most notably, without the hearsay evidence, the Crown would have been unable to prove a critical element of the offence – that the goods in question were in fact stolen.

Faced with this evidential gap, the prosecution offered no evidence on both counts. The Judge therefore entered formal not guilty verdicts for both defendants, bringing an end to over five years of worry and uncertainty.

Lucia was instructed by Liberty Law, and Creanna was instructed by Woolf & Co Solicitors.