Stryders represented E who was jointly charged with manslaughter and also the possession and importation of unlicensed drugs. The two defendants had set up a clinic in Luton in order to assist people with substance dependencies and to assist them in curing addictions, they had imported a drug from the United States of America which was unlicensed in the UK.
The deceased, responded to the advertisements put out on social media by the two defendants and arranged to attend the clinic in Luton so that the treatment could take place. The unlicensed drug was taken by the deceased who unfortunately died whilst being monitored at the clinic.
It was established through pathology and a toxicologist that in fact the deceased had taken heroin during the 36 hours that he was at the clinic, which was contrary to the instructions given to him once he had administered the unlicensed drug. An expert who has dealt with addiction treatment using the unlicensed drug gave evidence from California over a Livelink. Having heard from two pathologists, two toxicologists and various other experts a submission was made at the close of the Crown’s case that there was no case to answer so far as the manslaughter allegation was concerned.
The prosecution chose not to appeal that terminatory ruling. The defendants pleaded guilty to various matters of possession of unlicensed and uncontrolled drugs and E received a short sentence of imprisonment. Andrew Jeffries QC led Andel Singh, Solicitor Advocate Stryders