Karim S. Khalil QC

Recommendations
Karim Khalil QC is recognized as an outstanding advocate whose work is underpinned by detailed preparation in every case: he is acknowledged to be a ‘leading individual’ in Chambers & Partners directory and recommended in the Legal500. He is also championed by Black Letter Law, (a specialist directory known as the Black Lawyers Directory) for promoting excellence and diversity within the legal profession.

Karim was called to the Bar in 1984, became one of the youngest Assistant Recorders/Recorders, and took Silk in 2003 prior to prosecuting Ian Huntley & Maxine Carr (the Soham murders). His expertise is widely sought in diverse fields, including murder, serious fraud (including Inland Revenue, Customs & Excise and MTIC), health & safety, drug trafficking and sexual offences. He has a particular interest in medico-legal, science-based and baby-shaking cases.

His close association with the University of Cambridge enables him to draw on significant expertise when considering any new area of scientific interest, making him a leading Silk in the cross examination of scientific experts in many fields (including pathology, neuropathology, genetics, palynology {plant based analysis} and mineralogy).

Karim Khalil successfully resisted criminal proceedings on behalf of one of the government scientists in the Porton Down investigation. He has been involved in a number of trials involving Police informants and is known for the careful and sensitive handling of such cases, including the significant issues of PII and ex-parte applications that arise. Karim Khalil has made representations to the Discretionary Lifer Panel and he appears regularly in the Court of Appeal, often superceding original trial Counsel. He represented Richard Jan on his appeals against conviction and sentence for a campaign of petrol bombings (said to be one of the most dangerous men in the UK) and he represented the successful appellant in the House of Lords in R v Wang (Judge’s direction to convict, unlawful).

He writes the chapter on confiscation law in “Fraud: Law Practice & Procedure” published by LexisNexis and is instructed in cases involving significant confiscation proceedings.

He has appeared in the VAT Tribunal on behalf of those appealing against refusals by HM Customs to repay VAT following assertions of VAT/MTIC fraud.

Karim Khalil has championed the use of the digital presentation of evidence in court (often working closely with Acume) and was the keynote presenter at the inaugural conference for SIOs in the Apple Mac suite in London. Karim Khalil has strong professional links with the Forensic Science Services and LGC and is a member of the British Academy of Forensic Sciences to whom he presented the keynote speech on “The Science of the Soham Murders”.

Some further notable cases are listed below:

R v PAGE & Others
Defence. Led Andrew Shaw in securing the acquittal of defendant after a six week trial. Known as the Christmas Day murder, the court heard that there was evidence to suggest the defendant had a motive for the killing, tidied up the items used in the killing and also disposed of the blood-soaked bedding.

R v Tucker
Defence – Murder, landlord shot partner at point blank range. See links to press reports:

1. BBC
2. Daily Mail
3. Evening News

R v Jewell
Defence –  Murder by strangulation.  Jury agreed with the defence that it was manslaughter on the grounds of lack of intent due to the defendants severe alcoholism.

1. BBC
2. Northampton Chronicle
3. BBC

R v Acas
Defence – Murder by repeatedly stamping on victim. The body was then hidden under a mattress at the same address.

1. BBC
2. Cambridge Times
3. BBC

R v Cameron
Prosecution – Murder involving detailed analysis of mobile phone records, CCTV, and bank withdrawals

1. Eastern Daily Press
2. Norfolk Constabulary

R v Pun
Prosecution – Family running restaurants staffed by illegal immigrants and retail outlets selling counterfeit goods.

1. Evening Star

R-v-Wang
Appellant in House of Lords – Judge wrongly directing conviction – with Andrew Shaw

• Link to Judgement

Regina v Chandler, Clarke & Stewart
Prosecution – torture and murder of teenager in scenes copied from a horror film in a high-profile case described by Norfolk Police as ‘the worst case that Norfolk police have had to deal with’ – leading Christopher Morgan

1. BBC
2. Daily Mail

R-v-Huntley & Carr
Prosecution – Soham murders. Download trial article

R-v-Harvey
Defence – murder and dismemberment of relative

R-v-Brown
Defence – sado-masochism

R-v-Jacques
Prosecution – Cambridge University antiquarian thief

R-v-Wyner & Brock
Defence –- "The Cambridge Two"– drugs premises

R-v-Rand
Prosecution – baby assault despite defence successful in family proceedings

R-v-Cheong
Defence–- alleged murder in Guyana 20 yrs ago – manslaughter

R-v-Varian
Defence – VAT fraud – conditional discharge

R-v-Jalil
Defence – 3 month insurance fraud

Hannan -v-DTI
Defence – Company Directors Disqualification Act

HSE-v-Pepper & others
Defence – penalty restricted to Magistrates’ Court level fine despite death of employee

R-v-Warden & others
Prosecution – largest drug conspiracy in Cambridgeshire exposed by international covert Police activity)

Jan-v-Regina
Appellant's request to represent him in relation to a campaign of harassment, including firebombing of a home: described in some newspapers as one of the most dangerous men in the UK – with Gregory Perrins

HSE -v- Kings College, Cambridge University
Defence – asbestos

1. Safety & Health Practitioner

R-v-Caunter and others
Prosecution – man killed his fiancee by driving over her head and then fled to Thailand. With Gregory Perrins.

R-v-Hubbard
Prosecution – of the killer of a member of Norwich Magistrates' Court staff

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