NEWS
Patrick Dennis and James Gwatkin prosecute murder of young mother in car park
Patrick Dennis and James Gwatkin prosecuted Jason Flore for the murder of his partner Stephanie Marie in a disused car park next to Crawley Station. Following a barbecue the defendant was seen by commuters acting aggressively towards his partner, Stephanie Marie. Stephanie Marie was 19 years old. The defendant and her had a child together. The defendant was then seen moving away from the car park and discarding his blood-soaked tracksuit bottoms in a bush. Police and paramedics arrived at the scene and found Stephanie Marie had been stabbed in her chest.
The case involved complex blood pattern analysis evidence that showed Stephanie Marie's projected air borne blood on the defendant's tracksuit bottoms which was consistent with him having stabbed her in a way that severed her aorta.
The defendant was unanimously convicted after trial having blamed two others for the killing. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years and 181 days.
Patrick and James were instructed by Carla Harris from the CPS.
Press coverage can be found below:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62e7p2lx88o