Paul Rogers acted for Sussex Police in Inquest into tragic drowning accident

Outer Temple’s Paul Rogers acted for Sussex police in the Inquest into the death of Ms Blessing Olesegun. This involved the tragic death by drowning of a 21-year-old woman.

In September 2021, A 21-year-old woman was found dead on the shore of Bexhill seafront. She was found clothed on the beach and further along the beach her shoes, mobile telephone and some other personal items were found together. It was confirmed by her post-mortem that she had unfortunately drowned.

Dr Rycroft, Consultant Pathologist has said that “There is nothing to suggest there was a third-party involvement that caused her to be in the sea”. H.M. Senior Coroner Alan Craze recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

Paul Rogers was instructed by Sussex Police who were an Interested Party in the proceedings. The hearing was held at Hastings Coroners Court.

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Paul Rogers has a proven track record in handling complex investigations, trials and appeals as lead counsel, at both the domestic and international level.

Paul has significant experience in the international field as a senior prosecutor at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (UNICTY), and domestically in relation to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

His current practice centres on the defence of corporations, directors and individuals for offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act, and gross negligence manslaughter. Recent corporate clients include British Airways Avionics, Wanis, Tesla Engineering, SERCO, Tayto, Anglian Windows Ltd . Paul acts for care homes and care providers in relation to CQC prosecution and in inquests concerning deaths in care. Recent clients include a hospital director employed by Priory Healthcare, and large care providers such as Lifeways Community Care Ltd.

Paul advises the DPP/AG and CPS in relation to grave international crimes and issues of diplomatic immunity. He appeared for the prosecution in the case of R v Agnes Reeves Taylor –(allegations of torture arising from the first Liberian Civil War in 1990) at all levels including in the Supreme Court R v Reeves Taylor [2019] UKSC 51. The case established a landmark ruling on the breadth of the international crime of torture as enacted in domestic legislation under section 134 Criminal Justice Act 1988. He also acted for the DPP in the Divisional Court and Court of Appeal in the case of Freedom and Justice Party & Another v Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office [2018] EWCA Civ 1719, [2016] EWHC Admin 2010 a case determining the scope of immunities from arrest and prosecution for persons on special missions.

To find out more, contact Nick Levett +44 (0)20 7427 4908 or Adam Macdonald +44 (0)20 7427 4906 for a confidential discussion.

News, Inquests & Inquiries 27 May, 2022