Sam Blom-Cooper

Barrister

All areas of criminal defence including International Criminal Law; Extradition; Offences involving serious violence, drugs and dishonesty; Public, Administrative and Human Rights Law.

Education

2006 BVC, BPP Law School, London
2004 CPE, City University, London
2002 University of Nottingham / UCM Madrid BSc Physics with Spanish (First)

Professional Memberships

Association of Defence Counsel practising before the ICT
Admitted as counsel to the Kosovo Specialist Chamber
Criminal Bar Association

Languages

Spanish (Fluent)
French (competent)
Farsi (Conversational)

Articles & Publications

Lethal Indifference: Tinkering with the machinery of death – Review of the constitutionality of lethal injection - Middle Templar – Easter 2008, Issue 44

International Criminal Law / Extradition

The Gambia v Republic of the Union of Myanmar - Instructed as counsel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in proceedings concerning alleged breaches of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Specialist Prosecutor’s Office v Thaçi - Instructed as co-counsel to represent the former Prime Minister and President of Kosovo (until his arrest) for war crimes and crimes against humanity arising out of the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo in 1998-99, when acting as a leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Proceedings before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC).
Prosecutor v AN - Appointed by the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) as co-counsel to represent the former Rwanda Minister of Planning, on appeal, in relation to his convictions for involvement in the 1994 genocide. Representation has subsequently extended to appearing in trial proceedings concerning related allegations of contempt of court through witness interference (bribery and intimidation).
Government of Japan v W - Instructed as led junior to represent W accused of a $1million diamond robbery in Tokyo in the first ever extradition request from the Government of Japan. Proceedings under Part 2 of the Extradition Act 2003 arise pursuant to a Special Arrangement “Memorandum of Cooperation”. Collateral judicial review proceedings challenged certification of the extradition request under s.70.
Prosecutor v R & J - United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) - Initially instructed as Legal Consultant to an Amicus Curiae Investigator requested by the ICTY to conduct a complex and lengthy investigation into wide-scale witness interference in the case of Vojislav Šešelj. Currently, instructed as Amicus Curiae counsel to prosecute these allegations of systematic witness interference. Case now transferred to the UN IRMCT.
Government of Rwanda v Brown et al - Led Junior instructed on behalf of B in a second attempt by Rwanda to extradite in relation to allegations of being a principal organiser of the Rwanda genocide and having directly participated in multiple murders. Extradition refused on the grounds that B would face a real risk of an unfair trial, if extradited. Decision upheld on appeal before the High Court.
VB & Ors v Government of Rwanda & CPS - Led junior on behalf of the first appellant before the UK Supreme Court, seeking to rely upon closed material before the District Judge in ongoing extradition proceedings, in circumstances where such evidence would be withheld from both the Requesting State and the CPS, acting on its behalf.
Republic of Kosovo v SK - Instructed to represent Requested Person accused of murdering his sister in the first ever extradition request from the Republic of Kosovo. Successful discharge on the basis that the domestic arrest warrant was defective within the meaning of the s.78 Extradition Act 2003.
Republic of Moldova v VB - Successful challenge to a Part 2 extradition request on the grounds that detention conditions in the requesting state would violate Article 3 ECHR. Diplomatic assurances were thereafter found to be inadequate to confront the risk of inhuman and degrading treatment.
Re KHK - Instructed to represent former Minister of State and Member of Parliament in Bangladesh in connection with application to have removed a “Red Notice” issued by Interpol for K’s arrest in connection with acts of alleged terrorism and murder arising out of an attempt to assassinate the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Re TR - Instructed on behalf of the leader of the principal opposition political party in Bangladesh to draft submissions to lnterpol for the removal of a “Red Notice” most-wanted list, arising out of allegations of murder and complicity in the assassination attempt (grenade attack) on the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Application to remove the Red Notice was granted by Interpol in light of submissions made.

Crime

R v CP – Operation Rockrose. Led junior representing alleged professional hitman contracted by foreign-based customer. Encrochat legal challenge.
R v SN – Operation Tigard. Led junior on behalf of 15 year-old alleged to be a principal for the murder of a drug-dealer.
R v BS – Acted as junior alone on behalf of S, accused of participation in a “horrific” 14-hour torture session concerning a drug debt. Identification evidence excluded under s.78 PACE due to apparent “blacking up” of identification parade images, resulting in the Prosecution offering no evidence.
R v MG – Acted as junior alone on behalf of G, acquitted of laundering proceeds from a multi-million pound fraudulent scheme relating to the sale of counterfeit medications over the Internet.
R v CM – Instructed as led junior in a 12-month VHCC involving the alleged defrauding of wealthy residents in a nursing home. Acquitted.
R v RM – Instructed on behalf of one of 9 alleged gang members said to have possessed firearms (Uzi machine pistol) with intent to endanger life in arming themselves to violently confront rivals.
R v CS – Acted as junior alone in a multi-handed armed kidnapping and robbery of drug-dealers. The case involved the fatal shooting of a guard dog during the commission of offences.
R v B – Instructed on behalf of one of 11 defendants in a conspiracy to defraud Virgin Media of in excess of £60m.
R v C - Instructed to defend in relation to an allegation of s.18 wounding, where the defendant was said to have slashed the face of the victim with a knife.
R v SP - Instructed as led junior on behalf the alleged “book keeper” in a vast and sophisticated conspiracy to launder money.
R v MA - Instructed on behalf of a defendant (led junior) facing an allegation of murder arising out of a drugs feud. Following legal argument, plea to manslaughter accepted.
R v AS - Instructed on behalf of defendant acquitted of the attempted rape of a French tourist.
R v J - Led junior on behalf of the first defendant in relation to multiple allegations of gang rape over the course of a number of days on a single complainant. Involving review of extensive materials arising out of family court proceedings disclosed during the course of trial.
R v W – Successful application to stay proceedings as an abuse of process in respect of two unconnected sets of allegations. The conduct of the prosecuting authorities in respect of each offence was found to have brought the criminal justice system into disrepute.
R v C - Instructed on behalf of defendant concerned in the supply of cocaine to co-defendants who were themselves engaged in the supply of Class A drugs on a large scale, believed to be in the region of £10m worth of drugs.
R v D - Junior counsel on behalf of one of 23 young defendants facing charges, inter alia, of conspiracy to commit violent disorder, which resulted in a serious stabbing. It was alleged that D was the coordinating “lynch-pin" between the two rival gangs.
R v D C - Instructed on behalf of defendant alleged to have conspired in large scale theft, in breach of trust, of railway infrastructure. Prosecution offered no evidence following legal argument in relation to disclosure.
R v G - Instructed on behalf of a defendant accused of the attempted murder of his brother by repeated stabbing.
R v O’D - Instructed for defendant alleged to have committed aggravated burglary, and offences contrary to s.18 OAPA, during which two of the householders suffered serious harm.
R v K - Junior counsel for defendant acquitted after trial of s.18 wounding involving repeated stabbing to the head of a "close protection officer".
R v RP - Instructed in relation to an application to the CCRC concerning conviction for a "Gangland execution" murder and triple attempt murder.
R v B - Junior acting alone for the first of nine defendants accused of being the main organiser of violent disorder between rival football fans. Directed acquittal following submission of no case to answer.
R v RP - Led Junior on behalf of defendant facing an allegation of conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life arising out of retribution shootings.
R v PP - 'Critical Mass' trial. Counsel for defendant prosecuted for breaching a s.12 Public Order Act condition imposed upon the monthly cycle ride that coincided with the eve of Olympic opening ceremony.
R v Hickey - Counsel for defendant wrongfully convicted in the notorious "Bridgewater Murder" for which he served 19 years. A term of imprisonment was avoided in relation to multiple allegations of supply of Class A drugs.
R v K - Led junior on behalf of defendant accused of sexual grooming and sexual activity with children across a number of jurisdictions.
R v LW - Led junior on behalf of the ring-leader of 7 defendants in relation to conspiracy to kidnap and to rob an armed drug-dealer of £1m worth of cocaine.

Appeal Cases

Appeal Cases
R (Chappell & Ors) v SSHD [2023] 1 WLR 2489 – Judicial review of decision by the Secretary of State to certify first ever Japanese extradition request on grounds of non-compliance with s.70(3) Extradition Act 2003
R v Gould, Mugenzi & Ors [2021] EWCA Crim 447 - Acted as junior alone on behalf of one of the principal appellants before a specially constituted Court of Appeal examining the scope and extent of s.66 Courts Act 2003, and the ability of Crown Court judges to exercise powers of the Magistrates’ Court to correct procedural errors.
VB & Ors v Government of Rwanda & CPS [2014] All ER (D) 41; [2014] UKSC 59; [2014] ALL ER (D) 311; [2014] EWHC 889 (Admin) - Led junior on behalf of the first appellant before the UK Supreme Court, seeking to rely upon closed material before the District Judge in ongoing extradition proceedings, in circumstances where such evidence would be withheld from both the Requesting State and the CPS, acting on its behalf.
R v Pearl - [2019] EWCA Crim 2503 - Finding of “dangerousness” and concomitant Extended Sentence of 18 years' quashed on appeal in respect of a “brutal” home invasion aggravated burglary. The sentencing judge had refused to obtain a Pre-Sentence Report as being “unnecessary” due to the extreme violence of the offending.
R v Ndaliki - [2018] EWCA Crim 1250 - Appeal against sentence concerning level of credit to be accorded where a defendant gives evidence against a co-defendant on behalf of the Prosecution.
Topalli v Belgium - [2016] EWHC 2567 (Admin) - Instructed on behalf of alleged ring-leader of a multi-jurisdictional human trafficking organised crime group. The appeal focussed on the forum bar and abuse of process arising out of alleged judicial misconduct in the Requesting State.
AG Reference (R v Osagiede) [2017] EWCA Crim 329 – Successful response to reference by the Attorney General in respect of a high-level category one aggravated burglary. The sentence under review was considered to be lenient, but not unduly so.
R v Sula [2017] EWCA Crim 27 – Successful appeal against a sentence of 22 months' imprisonment following conviction for money laundering in respect of £500,000 cash.
R v Gooden [2016] EWCA Crim 2286 – Successful appeal against the imposition of a term of immediate imprisonment for one offence in a series of convenience store armed robberies, for which the appellant had already been found to be a “dangerous” offender. Term of suspended imprisonment substituted.
R v Griffiths [2016] EWCA Crim 1151 - Successful appeal against conviction for contempt of court arising out of inbound extradition to the UK, having absconded to Germany during his original trial. The appeal related to the application of specialty protections under Part 3 of the Extradition Act 2003.
R v Adewale [2016] EWCA Crim 403 - Appeal against conviction for money laundering, arising out deficiencies in the direction to the jury in respect of non-defendant bad character and refusal to accede to a submission of no case to answer.
R v Korb [2014] EWCA Crim 2826 - Following refusal of permission to appeal, successfully argued that the custodial element of a suspended sentence order was manifestly excessive for prolific burglar with serious learning disabilities arising from foetal alcohol syndrome.
Powesland v DPP [2014] 3 All ER 479; [2013] EWHC 3846 - (Admin) Appeal by way of case stated regarding the lawful operation of s.12 Public Order Act 1986 in respect of public processions.
R v Graham & Osinlaru [2011] EWCA Crim 176 - Appeal against sentences arising out of multi-handed raid upon commercial jewellers.
R v Shah [2011] EWCA Crim 180 - Obtained leave to appeal against sentence, as freshly instructed counsel, following refusal by the single judge, for two conspiracies to supply Class A drugs. Sentence of 5 years and 4 months reduced on appeal to 4 years.
R v Rhodes [2010] EWCA Crim 500 - Obtained leave to appeal against sentence, as freshly instructed counsel, following refusal by the single judge, in relation to the supply of Class A drugs. Sentence of 4 1/2 years reduced to 3 years.
R v Davis [2010] EWCA Crim 594 - Appeal against sentence that a term of 12 months' imprisonment for Blackmail should have been suspended. Sentence of 9 months suspended for 12 months with supervision requirement imposed.

Public and Administrative Law

R (Electoral Commission) v City of Westminster Magistrates Court & Anor [2009] All ER (D) 178; [2009] EWCA Civ 1078 - Led Junior in relation to the forfeiture of donations. Donor not found to be "permissible donor" within Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Human Rights Work / Associated Work

Kaya v Republic of Turkey (27110/08) - Successful Application to the ECtHR for a declaration of a violation of Art 10 on behalf of a Turkish citizen who was convicted for using the word “esteemed” in reference to the convicted PKK leader, Abdullah Öcalan.
Elikashvili & Lomidze v Russia - Petitioned the ECtHR on behalf of two applicants resulting in the serious injury and death of Georgian citizens during Russian military bombings. Pending.
Training on Rights of the Child in International Law (Diyarbakir, Turkey) - Conducted training sessions for members of the Diyarbakir Bar Association on the rights of the child in international law and their enforcement.

Death Penalty

Between 2002-07, practised as an investigator and mitigation specialist on behalf of persons facing the death penalty in the US, focusing on the cases of Mexican nationals in Texas.
Conducted trainings for consular officials on behalf of Mexico in relation to death penalty litigation and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR).