Owen Edwards completed his pupillage at Sedan House in 1993. After having an initially broad-based practice Owen specialised in crime and regulatory law, defending in his first murder and prosecuting his first rape in 1997. Owen became a category 4 prosecutor in 2002 and has regularly been a leading junior for the Defence and Prosecution since then. He has lectured on a number of topics and coordinates advocacy training for new practitioners. Owen is instructed in several high profile and difficult cases including homicide, drugs conspiracies, serious sexual offences, frauds, regulatory matters, driving and health and safety fatalities.

Recommendations

Owen Edwards is ranked as a leading individual in both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners UK.

UK Bar Rankings 2023 Owen Edwards

Legal 500

Owen Edwards KC –  ‘His advocacy is forceful and persuasive. Hard working, eloquent and loved by juries. A bright star.’

Chambers and Partners 2023

Owen Edwards KC prosecutes and defends serious criminal cases. He has considerable experience in cases involving homicides, serious sexual offences and drug conspiracies.

Strengths

“Owen is a brilliant cross-examiner and keeps the attention of the courtroom. He is highly respected by judges, opponents and colleagues alike. I highly recommend him for any serious case.”

“Owen prepares excellently for trial. He is an engaging and approachable individual.”

Notable Cases

Murder

R -v- Orlando Santos – Double murder

R -v- Travis – Murder – Diminished responsibility

Operation Tee – Hale Village Shooting

Fraud and Regulatory

Powys CC -v- Proctor – Health & Safety fatality

R -v- Welch & Hunt – NWDA fraud

R v Kings Scaffolding- Corporate manslaughter prosecution

Drugs Conspiracies

Operation Metaphrase – Leeds Crown Court

Operation Barometer- Chester Crown Court

Operation Justice –Caernarfon Crown Court

2016 -2021

R v H – Successful defence of officer at Court Martial (Colchester).

R v E -Defence Counsel for trainee teacher acquitted of rape (Mold Crown Court).

Operation Educe – Leading Defence Junior in case involving allegations of sexual and physical violence over two decades involving five countries and over twenty addresses. The defendant was convicted of most violent offences and acquitted of all sexual offences (Mold Crown Court).

Operation Triplane – Successful prosecution of the Chester jogger rape (Chester Crown Court).

R v Andrews- Leading Prosecution Junior in the high profile six week trial of a senior police officer accused of a course of harassment against former partners. (Manchester Crown Court)

Operation Measure – Successful defence of young man of good character charged with involvement in major cocaine conspiracy (Caernarfon Crown Court)

Operation Palliall- Defence Counsel for former Radio City DJ in high profile eight-week child abuse trial (Mold Crown Court)

R v Barry Bennell- Successful prosecution of the Manchester City and Crewe Alexandra youth coach at the heart of the football abuse scandal (with Nicholas Johnson QC Liverpool Crown Court)

R v Ian Naude- Leading Prosecution Junior in the successful prosecution of a police officer who committed paedophile offences throughout England and Wales (Liverpool Crown Court)

R v TS- Successful defence of manager charged with sexual assaults against five women (Warrington Crown Court)

Halton BC v Miles and Gilbert- Successful Trading Standards Prosecution involving finding of fact trial (Liverpool Crown Court)

R v JC- Successful defence of young man whose acquittal featured in the disclosure scandal relating to sexual offences (Chester Crown Court)

R v Shumon Ahmed- Successful defence in cocaine and MDMA conspiracy (Chester Crown Court)

R v Burrows- Successful prosecution in gross negligence manslaughter trial involving home carer (Liverpool Crown Court)

R v Barry Bennell- Further prosecution of Bennell as leading junior (Chester Crown Court)

R v Stephenson- Successful defence in death by careless driving case (Swansea Crown Court followed by Inquest at Haverfordwest)

R v Thomas – Successful defence in death by careless driving trial (Mold Crown Court)

R v Dr Ahmed Darwish – Successful defence in death by dangerous driving trial (Cardiff Crown Court)

R v B- Successful defence in historic sexual abuse trial (St Albans Crown Court)

R v Wilkinson- Successful defence in murder trial, defendant having earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter (Chester Crown Court led by David Elias QC)

Operation Casino- Successful prosecution in drugs and guns conspiracy (Liverpool Crown Court)