Murder and homicide

The most serious allegation in the criminal calendar.

What this covers

Murder and attempted murder
Manslaughter, including loss of control and diminished responsibility
Joint enterprise, where several people are charged with one death
Causation, where the question is whether the act caused the death
Appeals against conviction and sentence in homicide cases

Murder and homicide defence

As King’s Counsel, Imran Shafi has extensive experience of leading in dozens of murder cases, representing defendants facing the most serious and complex allegations in the criminal courts.

He brings strategic judgement, meticulous preparation and robust advocacy to every case. His approach combines detailed analysis of the prosecution evidence with an early assessment of the available defences, the underlying issues in the case and the most effective route to securing the best possible outcome for the client.

Expertise in complex murder cases

Imran has successfully advanced a range of substantive and partial defences to murder, including:

Self-defence: Advancing the case that the defendant acted lawfully in defending himself or another against an alleged threat.
Joint enterprise: Challenging allegations of secondary liability and establishing the absence of the necessary participation or intention to establish criminal responsibility for the acts of another.
Diminished responsibility: Developing and presenting the psychiatric and evidential foundations necessary to advance a defence of diminished responsibility.
Loss of control: Identifying and advancing the statutory defence where the evidence supports the contention that the defendant’s actions resulted from a qualifying loss of control.

His experience encompasses the detailed evidential, legal and tactical issues that frequently determine the outcome of murder trials. He is adept at identifying weaknesses in the prosecution case, testing the reliability of witness evidence, scrutinising forensic and expert material, and developing a coherent defence strategy tailored to the particular circumstances of each case.

Strategic leadership and case preparation

Imran is highly experienced in leading a team of junior counsel and solicitors in complex and demanding murder proceedings.

He recognises that effective representation begins long before the trial. From the earliest stages of a case, he provides strategic advice on the investigation, evidential issues, defence tactics and the overall preparation of the case. He works closely with the instructing solicitors and junior counsel to ensure that the defence is properly structured, the critical issues are identified at an early stage, and all appropriate lines of enquiry are pursued.

His approach is hands-on and collaborative, combining clear strategic direction with close attention to the detail of the evidence. He is experienced in managing substantial and complex cases, coordinating the work of the legal team, and ensuring that decisions about the conduct of the defence are informed by a thorough understanding of the evidence, the law and the practical demands of the trial.

A strategic approach to murder defence

Murder cases demand exceptional preparation, sound judgement and the ability to make difficult tactical decisions under pressure.

Imran provides clear, candid and carefully considered advice throughout the proceedings. Whether the central issue is identification, intention, participation in a joint enterprise, self-defence or a partial defence to murder, he approaches each case with the same objective: to identify the strongest available defence and advance it with determination, precision and skill.

He is committed to providing the highest standard of representation to clients facing the gravest criminal allegations and to delivering the strategic leadership required by solicitors entrusted with these cases.

Cases

As his chambers describes them.

Operation Fontaine2026
Defendant murdered partner by ramming her with his truck.
Operation Normandy2026Before the court
Alleged murder by ramming with vehicle.
R v SB2026Before the court
Isle of Man, Alleged soliciting to murder ongoing.
Operation Leonis2025
Multi-defendant Gang stabbing of rival.
Operation Plunkett2025
Multi-defendant Gang stabbing of a rival drug dealer.
Operation Siesta Mike2025
Stabbing murder of drinking partner.
Operation Ashburn2024
Six defendant murder by stabbing.
Operation Foxton2024
Five defendant ‘road rage’ murder.
Operation Zounds2024
Murder by stabbing, significant bad character of the deceased successfully introduced.
Operation Cantus2023
Defendant admitted stabbing deceased in the heart and liver in front of five witnesses. Acquitted of murder.
Operation DelayMike2023
Prosecuting wife for husband’s murder, complex causation issues arising. Defendant pleaded guilty to murder on day two of trial.
Operation Firestorm2023
Gang attack in which victim fatally stabbed in the streets of Preston. Defendant acquitted of murder and convicted of the lesser alternative of manslaughter.
Operation Kitewind2023
Multi-defendant stabbing and robbing of a drug dealer.
Operation Knott2023
Conspiracy to murder. Shooting of a rival gang member.
Operation Perasilk2023
Multi-defendant stabbing and robbing of drug dealer. Client acquitted of murder and convicted of the lesser alternative of manslaughter.
Operation Algorithm2022
Defendant accused of murder by stabbing.
Operation Colindale 22022
The notorious accidental shooting of law student, Aya Hachem in Blackburn in a botched plan to target business premises. Nationally reported.
Operation Dumore2022
Successfully argued loss of control, following a three-week trial defendant acquitted of murder and attempted murder. Defendant had attended the home of the victims and repeatedly struck both in the head with an axe killing one and causing devastating injuries to the other.
Operation Leaming2022
Murder and subsequent dismemberment of body.
Operation Legato2022
Stabbing of 16 year-old Rhamero West. Client convicted of murder and subsequently conviction successfully overturned at the Court of Appeal.
R v SJ2022
Client charged with attempted murder. Pleaded guilty to section 18 GBH with intent. Non-custodial sentence secured.
Operation Elderberry2021
Six defendants accused of beating a man to death outside a busy nightclub.
Operation Clumber2020
Young man accused of murder by stabbing a rival found not guilty following a successful case of self-defence.
Operation Flyberry2019
Conspiracy to murder by shooting. Persistence and a forensic analysis of the unused material led directly to the prosecution dropping the count of conspiracy to murder.
Operation Lando2019
Murder by stabbing.
Operation Sweden2019
Six defendant murder following a brutal beating in the street. Attracted significant national media coverage.
Operation Yale2019
Nine defendant murder. Gangland shooting. Defendant found not guilty following a two-month trial.
R v KM2019
Attempted murder by shooting.
Operation Dayton2015
Gangland drive-by shooting. Three-month trial.
Operation Picketgreen2015
Murder of wife and child destruction of unborn baby.
Operation Prospermouth2012
Murder of wife.
Operation Tundra2011
Murder with alleged homophobic murder. Successfully secured manslaughter conviction following a four-week trial.
R v Dev2005
Murder of father, body placed in a suitcase and kept in the boot of a car for months. Two- month trial at the Old Bailey.
R v Lydiate and others2000
Salford Gangland conspiracy to murder rival gang members. Three-month trial.

Taken from the case list his chambers publishes. Not all of the cases Imran Shafi KC has been involved in are set out on this site, for various reasons including confidentiality.

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board. Authorised to accept Public Access instructions. Not authorised to conduct litigation.