Top tax barrister Robert Venables KC, 78, of Old Square Tax Chambers is currently facing three counts of dishonestly cheating the public revenue in criminal proceedings before a jury at Southwark Crown Court.
Our reporting of this case:
✍️ Jan 2025: Barrister accused of falsifying tax returns – the indictment revealed
✍️ May 2026: Trial date set for barrister accused of falsifying tax returns
✍️ May 2026: Barrister’s barrister tells jury: “There is nothing legally wrong with avoiding tax and exploiting loopholes”
✍️ May 2026: Wise gardener gives evidence in KC Tax Cheat case
✍️ June 2026: Venables’ Bookkeeper Gives Evidence in KC Tax Cheat Case
✍️ June 2026: R v Venables KC: The HMRC Interviews: “wouldn’t it be wonderful if tax law were always simple and logical”
✍️ June 2026: HMRC’s criminal probe against Tax KC had “Red Risks”, jury told
✍️ June 2026: HMRC’s ‘menacing’ correspondence meets Tax KC’s threats of defamation, jury hears
✍️ June 2026: R v Venables KC: The Agreed Facts
✍️ June 2026: Top Tax KC: “I’ve been cancelled” as jury told of humble beginnings
✍️ June 2026: Tax KC’s ‘private working notes’ were attempt to ‘pull the wool over the eyes of HMRC’, jury told
✍️ July 2026: Jury to consider verdicts as the trial of KC accused of dodging £2m in tax comes to an end
✍️ July 2026: “It has become clear that a serious problem has arisen between you” – Judge urges jury to be respectful
✍️ July 2026: “Now you’re a jury of 11” – KC Tax Trial latest
✍️ July 2026: Venables jury down to 10
✍️ July 2026: Venables Trial Collapses
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Reporting by freelance journalist Daniel Cloake
Robert Venables (left) with barrister Stuart Biggs KC outside Southwark Crown Court
The twelve members of the public who have formed the jury hearing the case of R v Venables at Southwark Crown Court have been given a second “pep talk” by the judge.
The first, held yesterday, had Mr Justice Calver reminding them “what a fantastic jury they have been” and said they have a “collective responsibility in reaching your verdict” telling them their “task is to pool” their “individual experiences and wisdom”.
“It’s inevitable that occasionally you may feel frustrated or annoyed or experience other human emotions” but “I’m sure you can all move forward positively now”.
Earlier today Mr Justice Calver, at 12.45pm, brought the jury in to court and told them “I won’t inquire why the problem has arisen” but that “it has become clear that a serious problem has arisen between you”. The jury had yet to begin their deliberations today.
Citing “differences over topics which are private to you” the judge said matters “now appear to have escalated to words or behaviour which jeopardises balanced, reasoned, and fair discussion”.
The judge reminded the jurors that they swore or affirmed an oath at the start of this process to faithfully try the defendant, and to give a true verdict according to the evidence. “That is an individual task” he added, telling them “in order to do that you obviously would need to hear the views of others”.
“Members of the jury, I direct you to respect each other’s opinions and value the different viewpoints that each of you brings to the case. Don’t let yourself be bullied into changing your opinion, and you must certainly not bully anyone else into adopting your opinion”
“Any form of bullying…it is completely unacceptable and must not happen”
The judge informed the panel that he thought the prosecution and the defence have both presented the case “with immense effort and skill”, which was the result of “months of hard work” and this deserved “the calm attention and thoughtful consideration of their respective cases” by the jury.
“I have no doubt … that tensions can occur within the jury room. But such tensions can never be allowed to influence you in any way at all”
Mr Justice Calver asked the jury to “please continue your deliberations peacefully and respectfully”. If, however, they “really cannot … carry on with their deliberations, in accordance with your oath or affirmation” that they should inform the court.
“Please now return to your jury room to continue with your deliberations”
The jury had received a so-called majority direction yesterday, meaning only 10 out of the 12 need to agree to form a verdict for each count.
The jury left the court at 12.53pm.
The CPS are represented by Julian Christopher KC, Marika Lemos KC, and Michael Hick. Mr Venables is represented by Stuart Biggs KC and Erin McKee.
- This post was updated at 14.13 to include mention of the majority direction
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