Caroline Rees KC

• Leader of the Wales and Chester Circuit (2023 – 2025)
• Member of the Circuit Management Team (2018 – 2023)
• Founding Chair of the Wales and Chester Circuit Women’s Forum (2018 – 2023)
• Recorder of the Crown Court (2015)

• Gray’s Inn Major Scholarship, Wilfred Getz Award (1994)

• Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law, London
• LLB (Hons), University of Birmingham
• Ysgol Gyfun y Strade, Llanelli

Homicide

• I (2023) – Cardiff Crown Court. Leading Defence counsel in trial of mother charged with manslaughter of her child during Covid lockdown. Found not guilty by reason of insanity.
• R v L-J & T (2023) – Mold Crown Court. Leading Prosecution counsel in gross negligence manslaughter of disabled 16-year-old. Complex expert evidence on neglect, health, and forensic pathology.
• R v B & J (2023) – Swansea Crown Court. Leading Prosecution counsel in murder of 2-year-old Lola James. The case involved multiple injuries, complex causation evidence and attracted national media interest.
• R v TW & Others (2022) – Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. Leading Defence counsel for 17-year-old with communication needs, tried with two adults for the murder of Dr Gary Jenkins in Bute Park, Cardiff.
• R v C, W & M (2022) – Cardiff Crown Court. Leading Prosecution counsel in murder of 5-year-old Logan Mwangi. The case involved extensive digital, medical and CCTV evidence. High-profile trial.
• R v K & Others (2021) – Newport Crown Court. Leading Defence counsel in a multi-handed murder trial (Operation Waterhen). Successful dismissal application; defendant acquitted pre-trial.
• R v C (2021) – Mold Crown Court. Leading Prosecution counsel in gross negligence manslaughter following death during drug-related sexual activity. Sensitive forensic and expert medical evidence.
• R v D & Others (2021) – Newport Crown Court. Leading Defence counsel in murder case linked to drug supply. Involved complex communications evidence.
• R v C & Others (2020–2021) – Newport Crown Court. Leading Defence counsel in an eight-defendant murder trial. Retrial conducted under Covid restrictions with extensive expert evidence.
• R v R (2020) – Newport Crown Court. Leading Defence counsel in murder trial involving complex mental health issues and spiritual beliefs. The case included expert psychiatric evidence.

Serious Sexual Offences

• R v G (P) & G (A) (2018) – Cardiff Crown Court. Leading Prosecution counsel in trial of husband and wife charged with historic rape and serious sexual offences against multiple vulnerable young women. Issues included grooming, consent and manipulation.
• Operation Swan – Leading junior in six-week trial of multiple defendants charged with historic sexual abuse within a family over 20 years. The case involved vulnerable witnesses and evolving sexual offence legislation.
• R v AS – Defence counsel in trial of 16-year-old accused of raping a mentally vulnerable adult. Both defendant and complainant required intermediary support.
• R v CN – Prosecution counsel in familial historic sexual abuse trial. Defendant admitted incest but denied non-consensual acts. Complex issues of consent and sensitive video evidence.
• R v NW – Prosecution counsel in cases where the defendant disclosed historic sexual offending, including abuse of infants, while reporting alleged abuse against himself. Complex indictment and significant disclosure issues.
• R v RJ – Prosecution counsel in rape case involving multiple sex workers as complainants. Victims were vulnerable and distrustful of the justice system. The case involved partnership with support agencies.
• R v CD – Defence counsel in trial involving allegations of historic familial abuse. Required careful cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses within current best practice guidance.
• Operation Crimson – Prosecution counsel in trafficking and prostitution cases. Victims trafficked from Nigeria and subjected to JuJu rituals. Case involved expert cultural evidence and Proceeds of Crime proceedings.
• R v LW – Prosecution counsel in historic sibling abuse case. Evidence included expert analysis of soil, DNA and fingerprints.
• R v CG – Prosecution counsel in historic familial sexual abuse case. Issues included care home disclosure, abuse of process and doli incapax.
• R v KP – Defence counsel in multiple complainant case alleging abuse over 30 years earlier. Involved issues of memory and expert evidence on recall in childhood.
• R v JN – Prosecution counsel in partner rape case. Both parties were deaf and trial was conducted using British Sign Language interpreters.
• Operation Thistle – Prosecution counsel in allegations of rape, prostitution, bestiality and indecent imagery involving young women from care backgrounds. Included Proceeds of Crime proceedings.
• R v JR – Prosecution counsel in case of child kidnap and rape. Sensitive medical evidence presented on the issue of penetration.

Drugs

• Operation Corolla – Cardiff Crown Court. Defence counsel in multi-handed trial for conspiracy to supply heroin.
• Operation Hallett – Cardiff Crown Court. Prosecution counsel in 26-defendant conspiracy to supply high-purity amphetamine sulphate.
• Operation Orange Gobi – Cardiff Crown Court. Prosecution counsel in conspiracy to supply cocaine involving 13 defendants.

Nursing Home Abuse

• R v SS & Others – Cardiff Crown Court. Defence counsel for a nurse accused of physical abuse of elderly patients in a care home.
• R v SW – Cardiff Crown Court. Defence counsel in a case involving alleged abuse of patients at a psychiatric unit.
• R v K – Cardiff Crown Court. Defence counsel in allegations of abuse against a carer at a home for vulnerable adults.