This session, delivered by expert barrister Paramjit Ahluwalia from One Pump Court, will offer detailed guidance on representing defendants in the Crown Court whose experience of domestic abuse is relevant to their alleged offence, including:

• Explaining to the court the dynamics of domestic abuse and how they relate to your client’s case

• Supporting your client to give her best evidence

• Challenging myths and stereotypes

• Dealing with bad character evidence

• Seeking admission of expert evidence on domestic abuse and/or cultural context

• Applying for special measures to protect a vulnerable witness/defendant

• Addressing the challenges of digital proceedings.

• Additional considerations when representing a woman accused of killing her abuser.

The session will include opportunities for questions and discussion of case studies.

Paramjit Ahluwalia, Barrister, One Pump Court

Paramjit Ahluwalia is an experienced criminal defence barrister specialising in criminal appeals and defence in serious criminal cases, with a high profile practice. She has successfully represented individuals coerced into criminal offending (such as an individual subjected to sex work in R v O [2019] EWCA Crim 1389). She regularly advises in cases involving psychiatric, expert medical evidence and pathology. Recent work on cases on domestic homicide trials include R v Emma Jayne Magson and R v Farieissia Martin