Denise Breen-Lawton KC prosecutes Two-Handed Manslaugter & Attempted Robbery Case

Denise Breen-Lawton KC, leading Graham Russell of Citadel Chambers, prosecuted a manslaughter case involving an 83-year-old man who died from injuries inflicted during an attempted robbery.

The case addressed complex issues of causation, which were challenged by Defendant 1 and the participation of Defendant 2 in planning the attempted robbery in broad daylight of an expensive watch after the victim was spotted by Defendant 2 in a shop. The pair followed the victim in his car to where he parked up as he went to visit his elderly wife, who was undergoing treatment at a Neurological Rehabilitation Centre.

The victim died a week after the attempted robbery from organ failure, caused by necrotising fasciitis, an infection in the wound caused by defendant 1 whilst trying to steal his watch.

Defendant 1 had pleaded guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing and Defendant 2 was found guilty of the same offence on Friday.

Both defendants were found guilty of manslaughter, sentencing has been adjourned to January 2026.