Business Crime Associate, Miranda Ching, represents David Hughes, a British kayaking instructor accused of causing the death of Private Jamie Sawyer, during an adventure training exercise in March 2015.  Acquitted in early March, Hughes has now returned to his family in the UK after 15 months, three months of which was spent in custody.  Due to the delays caused by the criminal trial in Cyprus, the inquest in Birmingham Coroner’s Court will finally proceed.  Disappointingly, Mr Hughes received little by way of advice or support following his ordeal and it remains unclear why the Ministry of Defence ceded jurisdiction of this matter to local Cypriot authorities. Given Mr Hughes’ experience, civilian contractors working for the British Armed Forces ought to urgently consider their status to ensure that they are adequately protected in the event of emergencies when working abroad.

Mr Hughes’ was represented in Cyprus during his criminal trial by Stelios Vassilakkas of Flourentzou & Co in Cyprus.

Read further details of this case in a piece published by The Times online, here.