High-profile cases involving joint enterprise convictions

The 'joint enterprise' rules were used to convict the killers of Stephen Lawrence Credit: Family handout

The law on joint enterprise has been wrongly interpreted by criminal trial judges over the past 30 years, according to a landmark Supreme Court ruling.

It can result in someone being convicted of assault or murder even though they did not administer the blow. But a panel of judges has said it is not right that someone should be guilty merely because they foresaw that a co-accused might commit a crime.

Joint enterprise laws have been used to secure convictions in several high-profile cases.

  • Stephen Lawrence

Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted under joint enterprise in 2012 for the 1993 murder of Stephen Lawrence, who was stabbed to death by a gang in a racially motivated murder in Eltham, south-east London, when he was 18.

Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted and jailed in 2012. Credit: PA

  • Garry Newlove

Garry Newlove was kicked to death outside his home after confronting vandals Credit: Cheshire Police/PA Wire

In 2008, Stephen Paul Sorton, 17, Jordan Cunlifffe, 16, and Adam Swellings, 19, were jailed for life for the murder of Garry Newlove.

Mr Newlove was attacked in August 2007 after he confronted a gang vandalising a car outside his house in Warrington, Cheshire.

(Left to right) Stephen Paul Sorton, Jordan Cunlifffe, and Adam Swellings were jailed for life for the murder of Garry Newlove. Credit: Cheshire Constabulary/PA Wire

  • Pc Neil Doyle

PC Neil Doyle died from a fatal blow after being punched twice in 2014. Credit: ITV Granada

Off-duty policeman Pc Neil Doyle died after being attacked on his Christmas work night out in Liverpool in 2014.

Football agent Andrew Taylor, 29, and sports event manager Timmy Donovan, 30, were found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for seven years and six months and six years and 10 months respectively.

Neither defendant admitted throwing the fatal punch which ruptured Pc Doyle's vertebral artery.

Timmy Donovan (left) Andrew Taylor (right) were found guilty of manslaughter. Credit: PA

  • Shakilus Townsend

Shakilus Townsend was murdered in 2008. Credit: M

Shakilus Townsend died after being beaten with baseball bats and repeatedly stabbed by Danny McLean in 2008.

Samantha Joseph, was jailed for 10 years after acting as a "honey trap" for her older boyfriend to lure the 16-year-old to his death when she was 15.

Samantha Joseph and her boyfriend Danny Mclean were convicted of Shakilus Townsend's murder. Credit: PA