Nova Murray

Nova Murray is a Senior Criminal litigator having worked in criminal law for many years in London in top tier ranked firms dealing in serious crime.

She has dealt with a whole range of cases from assaults, sexual assaults, firearms and explosives cases and serious drug and high value fraud cases and POCA.

Nova can rapidly build up trust with her clients and has an approachable manner. She spends the time to ensure that her clients understand the proceedings. She will make sure that the preparation of a case is first class, ensuring that there is constant communication with her clients and instructed counsel so that all involved are fully appraised as to the progress of the case.

She has been highly regarded by senior barristers for decades and she carefully instructs and works alongside the best.

When necessary, Nova will locate and instruct leading experts to assist with the defence case or to challenge the evidence laid out by the prosecution.

She has dealt with both legally aided and privately funded cases.

Notable cases:

R v. LS (Baby Shaking)

In 1998 Nova was involved with the case of LS at the Central Criminal Court, the Australian nanny accused of the murder of a 6-month-old baby she had care of as a nanny by shaking her when she thought she was choking. Her plea of not guilty to murder was accepted by the crown and the court and she entered plea to manslaughter on the basis that her actions mounted to gross negligence. She had an IQ of 81 well below the average of 100 due to not having been diagnosed as lacking a thyroid causing her lack the mental capacity to properly assist the ward in her care and as such was unable to as the judge remarked to “think flexibly particularly in emergencies or perceived emergencies”.

She was sentenced to a term of 15 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years and was allowed to return to Australia.

R v. DF (Court Martial – War Crimes)

In 2006 Nova represented DF a private in the army who had been based in Iraq in 2003. He along with other soldiers of various ranks were accused of mistreatment of several Iraqi detainees by holding them in detention for a number of hours beating them and keeping them in stress positions.

Submissions were made at the close of the Prosecution case in relation to the soldiers and their commanding officer Colonel Mendonca which were successful, and he was cleared of the charge of inhumane treatment following a 6 month court martial hearing in Wiltshire.

R v. C - Central Criminal Court (Murder )

This matter was a spin off from the case of Daniel Morgan the private investigator who was murdered in a car park with an axe nearly 30 years ago.

Several defendants were charged and part of the evidence relied on against one of them was from a lady who alleged she had been his mistress and had witnessed him commit other murders and serious assaults.

She also alleged that she had been attacked by this defendant and another whilst in a park and warned off giving evidence in the matter. The defendants were subsequently charged with ABH and witness intimidation.

The case against both defendants was dropped as she was found to not be credible having been Psychiatrically assessed in relation to the murder.

R v. E - Central Criminal Court ( Phone Hacking )

Nova was also part of the team involved in the News of the World Op Weeting case at the Central Criminal Court representing a former editor who was charged with hacking the voicemails of high profile celebrities.

R v. SB - Central Criminal Court ( Murder )

Part of a team who represented the Defendant – SB in the case of R v. SB Central Criminal Court accused of the murder of Gordon Semple a police officer who it is alleged was killed by him and dismembered.

R v MPN Southwark Crown Court

Charged with preparing explosives in his home

R v SS Southwark Crown Court

Charged with High value tax evasion along with several other defendants and acquitted