Background Gavel
Caroline Paul
Barrister
cpaul@rosecourtchambers.com
Year of call:
2015

About

Caroline is a dedicated and articulate criminal advocate who both prosecutes and defends. She combines her passion for her work with a down to earth approach. Her personable manner means that she quickly builds a rapport with both professional and lay clients.

Memberships:

Caroline is a member of the Criminal Bar Association and the South Eastern Circuit.

She is a Level 3 prosecutor on the CPS advocates’ panel.

Middle Temple.

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Experience

Caroline has been involved in the criminal justice system for over 30 years. She obtained her higher rights as a solicitor in the crown court in 2000. From thereon, she prosecuted jury trials as an in-house advocate for the CPS before transferring to the Bar in 2015. During the last 8 years, she has prosecuted and defended independently.

Caroline is instructed to prosecute and defend in a wide range of cases including historic sex offences, multi-handed fraud, blackmail, armed robbery, large scale drug supply, threats to kill and domestic violence. Her extensive experience also includes dealing with mentally disordered offenders and successfully conducting hearings under section 4A of the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964.

She also has experience in prosecuting and defending cases involving defences under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. More recently, she has had experience both prosecuting and defending Section 28 cases.

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Notable Cases

R v L – Reading 2023 (Defence counsel) - Represented an 89-year-old defendant who faced counts of coercive or controlling behaviour and ABH in respect of his wife. It became apparent through conferences with the client that he was suffering from dementia. Advised solicitors to obtain neurologist’s report and thereafter drafted representations to the CPS which persuaded the prosecution to offer no evidence.

R v T – Harrow 2022 (Defence counsel) - Represented a defendant who faced a charge of sexual assault of a child under 13. This was a Section 28 case. The defendant was acquitted after full trial.

R v G – Inner London 2022 (Prosecution counsel) - Defendant was charged with counts of controlling or coercive behaviour and ABH. This was a Section 28 case since one of the complainants was aged 16. The defendant was convicted after a 5 day trial.

R v W – Isleworth 2022 (Defence counsel) - Historic sex case in which defendant faced 2 counts of indecent assault of a girl aged 5. After a 4 day trial, the defendant was unanimously acquitted on both counts.

R v D – Harrow 2021 (Defence counsel) - Represented defendant for trial who was charged with sexual assaults, exposure and attempted grievous bodily harm. After full trial, the defendant was acquitted of the attempted GBH. At sentence, persuaded the judge that the defendant did not meet the criteria for dangerousness.

R v G – Harrow 2021 (Prosecution counsel) - The defendant faced a section 18 charge of wounding with intent and was alleged to have stabbed the complainant, his wife, multiple times. During the trial, the complainant refused to give evidence. In a voir dire, made a successful application to adduce as res gestae the evidence which the complaint gave at the scene. The defendant was convicted after full trial.

R v G – Isleworth 2020 (Prosecution counsel) - Defendant faced multiple charges of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. Defence contended that the defendant was a victim of modern slavery. Advised CPS at early stage re merits of defence. Defendant pleaded guilty on first day of trial.

R v M – Isleworth 2020 (Defence counsel) - Represented defendant who had sustained a severe traumatic brain injury. Case involved complex psychiatric reports. Mitigated under the new guidelines for sentencing offenders with mental disorders and persuaded the court to defer sentence to enable treatment for the defendant.

R v J - Isleworth 2020 (Defence counsel) - Represented defendant charged with multiple charges of sexual assault against schoolgirl complainants. Successfully persuaded prosecution to accept lesser pleas in the light of the pandemic and the case of R-v-Manning.

R v B - Wood Green 2019 (Prosecution Counsel) - Trial concerned an allegation of blackmail and robbery of a vulnerable disabled schoolboy. Successfully persuaded the judge to admit the defendant’s bad character after protracted argument involving a voir dire.

R v F & Others – Harrow 2019 (Prosecution Counsel) - Violent knife point robbery by 4 gang members on lone individual in subway. Case involved extensive CCTV and cell site evidence. Complainant failed to attend trial. Convictions secured in his absence.

R v K – Isleworth 2019 (Defence Counsel) - Represented 81-year-old defendant who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of historic sexual offences committed 30 years ago on his nephews. He had made admissions to the police without any report being made by any of the 4 complainants. Drafted grounds of appeal against sentence.

R v R – Guildford 2019 (Defence Counsel) - Represented defendant charged with stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress on his ex-partner. Having made extended applications for disclosure which the prosecution was unable to provide, successfully persuaded the prosecution to accept a plea to the lesser offence of simple stalking.

R v A – Isleworth 2019 (Prosecution Counsel) - The defendant had escaped from a mental health institution and was charged with possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Conducted the hearing under section 4A of the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964.

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