John Wyn Williams from Exchange Chambers has secured an acquittal for his client charged with having a loaded shotgun in a public place following the fateful shooting of a teenager.
On 5 February 2017, Michael Fitzsimons, 25, had been out drinking with a group of men including Peter Colwell, 18, his brother Ben Fitzsimons, 23, Harry Butler, 23 and Ben Wilson, 29 before a gun went off in a 4×4, killing Mr Colwell who was sat in the back seat of the vehicle.
On day 16 of the trial at Caernarfon Crown Court, the jury found Ben Fitzsimons guilty of having a loaded shotgun in a public place.
Michael Fitzsimons, represented by John Wyn Williams, was cleared of having a shotgun in a public place while Harry Butler was also acquitted of the same charge.
On the more serious manslaughter charge facing Ben Fitzsimons and Ben Wilson, the jury was discharged after failing to reach a verdict. They will remain on bail and face a retrial for the charge of manslaughter through gross negligence in June 2019.
John is a member of the criminal department at Exchange Chambers.