Ignatius Hughes KC (Door Tenant)
| Called: | 1986; Silk 2009 |
| Qualifications: | LLB (Hons) |
Profile
Ignatius Hughes is a door tenant at Colleton Chambers. He is a specialist Crime and regulatory practitioner.
Ignatius’s practice has covered a spectrum of the most serious and complex cases whilst in Silk: multi-handed murders; rape; drugs and firearm conspiracies and fraud.
He also has longstanding experience of Courts Martial in the UK and abroad.
Crime
Ignatius’ down-to-earth attitude and fearless and purposeful advocacy win favour with clients and juries. His excellent judgement, precision of thought and tactical subtlety underpin.
Ignatius has particular expertise in the issues which arise in missing body murders, and cases of non-accidental head injury (the ‘baby shaking’ Triad). He is recognised for his mastery of the complex medical evidence involved in the latter, and a corresponding ability to cross examine experts to devastating effect (as a result, Ignatius has also been retained as a Leading Counsel in Family Division cases involving these issues).
Environment & Regulatory
Ignatius has particular experience of the issues arising in cases involving waste management and control, financial services regulation and the FSA, European subsidy regulatory interplay with criminal fraud, and industrial/workplace injuries.
Professional Memberships
Western Circuit
South Eastern Circuit
Criminal Bar Association
Notable Cases
2017 cases of interest:
Liverpool Crown Court: Defence in manslaughter when cannabis plantations in family home caught fire killing the defendant’s father-in-law. Not guilty.
Catterick Courts Martial: Defence in manslaughter by gross negligence: death in Camp Bastion, Helmand Province. Sapper killed by JCB digger during decommission. Combat Immunity argued. Not guilty.
Swansea Crown Court: Defence in death by careless driving. Pregnant mother lost control on a bend after overtaking two vehicles, killing oncoming driver and her own unborn child. Not guilty.
Truro Crown Court: Defence in joint enterprise murder by stabbing. Defendant not called. He alone of three defendants not guilty.
Bristol Crown Court: Defence of cut-throat drug related murder: Not guilty. Co defendant convicted.
Leading defence cases include:
R v Stephens [2013]: two-handed cut-throat ‘shaken baby syndrome’ death. Highly complex neurosuricall, neuropathological evidence in relation to causation and timing of injury, centred around delayed hypoxic-ischaemic injury triggered other than by intracranial pressure. Defendant of extremely low IQ, intermediary throughout trial, issues of fitness for trial continuing within trial etc..
R v Taylor [2013]: ‘missing body murder’ involving disappeared wife of undertaker defendant. Much turned on expert evidence re. distribution/causation of blood stains on the marital bed.
R v Dallimore [2013]: successfully defended in allegation of largescale fraud related to over-value on-listed shares in a pharmaceutical company, & allegedly bogus South African based film project.
R v Doe [2012]: successfully defended in multi-handed abduction and killing of drugs importer involving the traveller community and organised crime. Principal prosecution witness was Jimmy of TV fame, who was himself shot during the course of the trial. Exceptionally complex circumstantial evidence involving ANPR, phone and cell site analysis.
R v Sugden [2011]: successfully defended in so-called ‘missing body murder’ of Donovan Van Lill, involving a document written by the defendant which was allegedly a plan of the killing. Analysis of complex cell-site analysis.
R v Ling (Central Criminal Court) [2010]: Defended landscape-gardener who murdered his mistress after discovering her ‘infidelity’. Provocation defence.
R v Bailey (Central Criminal Court) [2009]: Murder by joint enterprise during burglary. Eighteen year-old defendant.
R v McArthur [2009]: Rape of partner by defendant on life licence for rape.
R v Riley Murder and disposal of body of landlady.
Re R, R v Martin, & R v K ‘Shaken baby syndrome’ deaths.
R v Hahn Murder during armed robbery. Causation/intent issues.
R v Roberts Murder/diminished responsibility manslaughter.
Other defence cases of interest include:
R v Smith-Keary Multi-million pound Intervention Board EU subsidy fraud.
R v Summers Multi-million pound ‘Ponzi’ investment fraud.
R v Sinmanz (so-called ‘Son of the Devil’ case): Multiple rapes.
R v Chappell Rape/sleep disorder automatism.
Represented the original ‘Milky Bar Kid’ in a firearms case.
R v Gauntlett: successfully defended international sportsman against allegations of unlawful disposal of waste and operating a waste facility (tyre bales as substrate for riding gallops and other structural use).
Education & Appointments
LLB (Hons)
Middle Temple
Recorder (Crown Court) 2005
Direct Access
Ignatius Hughes is licensed to accept work under the Direct Access rules. Click here for further details about the Public Access scheme.
Recommendations
“Very experienced in Court Martial cases”
Legal 500 2017
“Recommended for all serious criminal cases”
Legal 500 2016
“His extensive expertise includes fraud, sexual offences and large-scale drugs conspiracy cases.”
Legal 500 2015
“Has a broad criminal practice focused on the most serious and complex cases, such as multi-handed murders, serious sexual offences, and drugs and firearms conspiracies.”
Chambers and Partners 2015
“A highly regarded jury advocate.”
Legal 500 2014
”He is a natural advocate; if I had my back to the wall, he’s the guy I’d instruct.”
Chambers and Partners 2014
“has significant records in serious crime cases”
Legal 500 2013
“incredibly gifted”
praised for his “economic use of language and questions” and “precise deployment of his advocacy skills.”
an ideal choice for cases concerning rape, murder and other serious crimes
Chambers and Partners 2013
“Continues to impress on Circuit”
Legal 500 2012
“good tactician and advocate”
Chambers and Partners 2012
“has a great courtroom presence and an excellent way with the client – a star in the making”
Legal 500 2010
“Positively thriving in the West Country as both a defender and prosecutor. Many have fallen foul of his polished performances”
“well-prepared and persuasive advocacy”
“A man of purpose”
Chambers and Partners