Lord Advocate announces changes to Crown Counsel Team
27 February 2009
LORD ADVOCATE ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO CROWN COUNSEL TEAM
The Lord Advocate, the Rt Hon Elish Angiolini, QC, today announced the retirement, at the end of May 2009, after seven years' service as anAdvocate Depute, of Brian McConnachie, QC, the Principal AdvocateDepute, and further changes to the Crown Counsel team.
Mrs Angiolini paid tribute to Brian McConnachie's outstanding contribution as Principal Advocate Depute, including his lead role in many of the major prosecutions in recent years in Scotland. These have included the trial of Owen Anderson for the murder of Gary Linn, the
trial of Michael Ross for the murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood, and the trial of Mohammed Atif Siddique for terrorist offences.
The Lord Advocate, Elish Angiolini, said:
"I want to thank Brian McConnachie for his unwavering commitment and dedication to the role of Principal Advocate Depute and his determination and skill in prosecuting some of the most significant cases in recent years.
"Brian's advice and support has been invaluable over many years, and I am grateful in particular for his effective leadership of Crown Counsel. I would like to wish him every success for the future."
Dorothy Bain QC, who is currently Assistant Principal Advocate Depute has been appointed as the new Principal Advocate Depute and will take over from Brian McConnachie in May 2009. In view of the increasing complexity and scale of a number of High Court cases, the Lord Advocate has decided to appoint two Assistant Principal Advocate Deputes. Alex Prentice QC and Derek Ogg QC, both currently Senior Advocate Deputes, have been appointed as Assistant Principal Advocate Deputes.
The Lord Advocate added:
"I am delighted to announce that Dorothy Bain QC has been appointed as Principal Advocate Depute, supported by Alex Prentice QC and Derek Ogg QC, who will both serve as Assistant Principal Advocate Deputes. Dorothy will be a great asset in the leadership of our Crown Counsel team and its contribution to criminal justice in Scotland."
Dorothy Bain has prosecuted a number of major cases. These include the prosecution of four members of a Glasgow drugs gang - Colin McKay, Brian Kelly, Robert Murray and Robert O'Hara - who were sentenced to a total of 56 years following the murder of Paul McDowall. Ms Bain also prosecuted Samuel Petto and others in the Allison Street petrol bombing,
in which Myra Donnachie was murdered.
In addition, she led the prosecution of Brian Venutti, who was convicted of the murder of one young man and the attempted murder of five other Scotland football fans who were struck by the accused's car on the way to an international match at Hampden.
Ms Bain also led the prosecutions of Peter Tobin, for the rape and murder of Angelika Kluk, Kevin Gibson for the murder of Timothy Wallace, and Giovanni Mola for culpable and reckless conduct which resulted in the infection of his former partner with HIV and Hepatitis.
Since 2008, Ms Bain has liaised with the COPFS Lothian and Borders Area sexual offences team to provide advice at the earliest stage in investigations.
Dorothy Bain said: "I am delighted and honoured to be given the opportunity to lead the Crown Counsel team, and to build on the significant improvements made by Brian McConnachie. I look forward to working with colleagues across the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to ensure that the investigation and prosecution of serious crime is conducted professionally and sensitively and that we continue to bring compelling prosecutions before the court."
Notes to Editors:
1. New arrangements for the appointment and role of Advocate Deputes were announced in December 2002 in the document 'Modernising the Prosecution of Serious Crime - Appointment and Role of Advocate Deputes: The Way Forward'. These can be viewed at
www.copfs.gov.uk
2. Advocate Deputes are referred to collectively as Crown Counsel. These appointments cover for two planned departures.
3. Brian McConnachie was educated at the University of Glasgow and admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1994. He was appointed an Advocate Depute in 2002 and Principal Advocate Depute in 2006. He took silk in 2005.
4. Dorothy Bain was educated at the University of Aberdeen and admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1994. She was appointed as an Advocate Depute in 2002, and became Assistant Principal Advocate Depute in January 2006. She took silk in 2007.
5. Alex Prentice qualified as a solicitor in 1983 and as a Solicitor Advocate in 1994. He is a highly experienced criminal lawyer who practised as a defence solicitor for 21 years. In 2004 he became the first Solicitor Advocate from outwith the Crown Office and Procurator
Fiscal Service to be appointed as an Advocate Depute. He was appointed as a Senior Advocate Depute in 2006 and took silk in 2007. He hasprosecuted a number of significant cases including the shotgun murder at the "Marmion" public house in Edinburgh and the murder of Jolanta Bledaite.
6. Derek Ogg studied at the University of Edinburgh. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1989, having previously been a solicitor in private practice for a number of years. He took silk in1999. He has a Diploma in Master Advocacy and a Certificate in TeachingAdvocacy Skills. He has prosecuted a number of significant cases, including David Lilburn for the murder of his wife, Ann.
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