Area of Practice
Michael Ellis is a specialist criminal advocate with experience of a broad range of defence and prosecution work, including significant cases with a high public profile.
He has been involved in several murder and manslaughter trials including one described by a Detective Chief Superintendent in Northamptonshire as the largest murder trial in the history of that county.
Michael Ellis has also acted in serious offences including multiple armed robbery, rape, child cruelty, kidnapping and Class A drugs importation. He has acted in cases involving high profile clients.
Mr Ellis is a frequent contributor to the international news media on Constitutional Affairs and the British Monarchy, including CNN, BBC News 24, and Sky News.
In December 2006 Mr Ellis was selected and adopted as the Conservative Party’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency of Northampton North.
Recent cases of Note
Serious Violence
• Instructed by the defence in a murder trial led by Gareth Evans QC. Allegation of strangulation in a domestic context.
• Instructed by the defence and led by Stephen Coward QC in both trial and retrial of a teenage defendant charged with the murder of an 18 year old. Complex issues of pathology resulting in national level controversy in the field of forensic pathology (in connection with wound characteristics in the use of differing knives). Crown accepted section 18 plea on the third day of trial.
• Instructed on behalf of the second defendant in a 10 handed conspiracy to murder involving a group attack on the victim resulting in persistent vegetative state. Trial listed for 10 weeks. The case against the second defendant was stayed.
• Instructed by the Crown in a high profile murder case in Northamptonshire led by Michael Stokes QC. The victim was a prominent member of the local business community and the case attracted national press coverage. A conviction of manslaughter was secured following 2 weeks of trial.
• Led by James Hunt QC in 2 week multiple armed robbery trial concerning two Building Societies. Case complicated by identification issues including CCTV footage and forensic evidence. Instructed by the Crown. Conviction of life imprisonment.
• Instructed in multiple indictment of robberies, armed robberies and GBH. Case included complex medical evidence. Defendant assigned to Broadmoor for 6 months to undergo psychiatric evaluation prior to sentence.
Other Cases of Note
• Instructed on behalf of defendant in multi-rape, attempted rape and indecent assault case on step-daughter aged under 14 years. Acquitted of rape and attempted rape.
• Instructed in fraud of a government agency involving investigation by the National Crime Squad. Issues concerned alleged false claiming of government grants for teaching purposes. Trial listed at Northampton Crown Court with a time estimate of 4 weeks. Case stayed.
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