Nick Corsellis QC and Kerry Broome prosecuted the defendant who was interrupted when murdering his wife on their driveway by a 76 year old lady who attempted to intervene.
The defendant went on to then murder the pensioner with her own walking stick. The defendant was an upstanding member of the public who appeared to be having a psychotic episode with new seeming evidence as to illicit drugs. Thorough preparation of the evidence led to the defendant's toenails and underarm hair being tested by an exclusive laboratory in Strasbourg. This revealed nanogram traces of synthetic LSD which was argued must have caused or contributed to the psychosis or demonstrated the defendant's hidden interest in class A drugs. The issues also included complex psychiatry, toxicology and haematology.
The defendant was convicted. The case attracted national press attention.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-55796960
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/daniel-appleton-murdered-wife-and-neighbour-in-street-xcjvrjdlr
Nicholas Corsellis KC
Kerry Broome