Nigel Hamilton

Nigel Hamilton

  • Year of Call: 2004
  • B.A. (Hons) Management Sciences,
        University of Loughborough (2002)
    Inner Temple
Practice

Nigel Hamilton prosecutes and defends in all areas across the Criminal Law spectrum, including cases of violence, dishonesty, public order offences and drugs. He is a Grade 3 Crown Prosecutor, a member of the Attorney General’s list of Prosecuting Counsel, and has experience of handling cases involving child witnesses and vulnerable defendants.

Nigel has a particular niche in crimes involving the use of motor vehicles. He has appeared in a number of cases resulting from road traffic accidents involving death and serious injury, and has particular expertise in cases involving difficult and complex arguments regarding causation. Nigel has appeared in several notable cases involving driving whilst impaired by drink or drugs and is often instructed by solicitors as the counsel of choice in Magistrates’ Courts in road traffic matters across the North Eastern Circuit area and beyond.

Aside from his specialist areas, Nigel Hamilton’s practice is a broad one. He is regularly instructed in cases involving technical points of law, procedural irregularities and arguments involving abuse of process, and he has expertise in dealing with asset forfeiture and civil cash seizures under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Outside of the criminal law Nigel has represented professionals in disciplinary tribunals with notable success.

 

What The Directories Say

 

“Promising Younger Junior” – Legal 500 (2010)

 

Nigel Hamilton - a Direct Access Barrister

 

Nigel Hamilton is able to accept Direct Access work under the Bar Public Access Scheme. For more information in relation to the scheme or to make a booking directly please contact our dedicated Criminal Clerking Team on the details provided opposite.

 

Professional Memberships

 

Criminal Bar Association

North Eastern Circuit

 

Notable Cases

 

Court of Appeal

R v Wright (Daniel) EWCA Crim 3153

Appeared for the lead protagonist in a football violence case described by the trial Judge as ‘a deliberate premeditated and co-ordinated attack.’

 

Crown Court

R v Andrew Lindo, Bradford Crown Court, September 2011

Junior Counsel for the Crown in the Holmfirth 'body in a suitcase' murder where the defendant had killed his common law partner and placed her body in a suitcase in his garage, whilst continuing living there with a new partner and his children . The case received extensive coverage in the national media. Led by Michelle Colborne QC.

R v Andrew Browne, Leeds Crown Court, March 2011

Prosecution Counsel in a dangerous driving matter involving multiple serious injuries to a three year old child following the driver striking the child at low speed and then reversing over the child at speed in an attempt to flee. The case involved difficult issues of causation and was reported nationally.

R v  Aaron Gaffey, Bradford Crown Court, February 2011

Prosecution Counsel in a high speed dangerous driving case where the Crown added several counts of assault to the indictment under the principle in R v Stranney to reflect the multiple serious injuries to passengers.

R v Christopher Harris and two others, Bradford Crown Court, April 2010 (reported as Attorney-General’s Reference no.32 of 2010, EWCA Crim 380

Prosecution Counsel in a case involving violence, the lead defendant charged with wounding with intent, the case involved complex issues of medical causation. The sentence was the subject of an Attorney General’s reference.

R v Mazhar Abbas, Bradford Crown Court, September 2009

Appeared as Junior Counsel for the lead defendant in a gangland multiple kidnapping / torture case. Led by Nicholas Askins.

R v Sean Smith, Bradford Crown Court, March 2008

Appeared for the Prosecution in a multiple death aggravated Taking without Consent following a Hanoi Burglary.

R v Jason Hartley (appeal) Bradford Crown Court, May 2007

Appeared for the defendant in the first case to come before a Crown Court involving the use by officers of a roadside Preliminary Impairment Test.

R v Paul Dewhirst, Bradford Crown Court, September 2006

Appeared as Junior Counsel for the defendant charged with a catalogue of violence against several previous female partners. Led by Mark Fletton.