Anatomy of an Impossible Trial for Child Exploitation

January 12, 2016

Richard Barraclough QC has written a commentary on a recent case in which he was Leading Counsel for one of the defendants.

The case involved serious sex/trafficking offences, including engaging an honourable and vulnerable girl in prostitution. The case was complex and involved the use of an intermediary. The issues raised in evidence (and the submission of no case) concerned the number and structure of ABE interviews, the use of pre ABE interviews and meetings, the extent to which a victim should be challenged in ABE interviews and the use of pre prepared witness statements where the victim refused to engage in the ABE process.

Reforms are now proposed in relation to the investigation and trial process in this type of case.

The commentary provided by Richard Barraclough QC gives a detailed analysis of the processes involved and the challenges in this type of case with such a vulnerable victim and where the process is so complex.

Click here to view the article