Alura Bather

Year of Call: 2022

CPS Grade: 2
 

 

Career overview

Alura graduated with honours from the University of Birmingham in 2021. She completed the Bar Practice Course and undertook a Masters in Law at the University of Law in Manchester in 2022, for which she received a distinction.



Alura worked Pro Bono for the Freedom Law Clinic, working on applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. As part of her work with the Clinic, Alura worked with a small team working on the case of R v McC, who was convicted of a murder committed in 2009. Alura’s primary focus was researching the analysis of the gun-shot residue presented to the jury. The results were ‘indicative’, not ‘determinative’, with only ⅔ of the elemental particles associated present, and further alloys were found which were inconsistent. Further, the gun-shot residue produced was not exclusive to the ammunition fired by an AK47, the suspected murder weapon. This research formed part of the application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, for the matter to be referred to the Court of Appeal, as forensic evidence was central to the Prosecution case at trial.



Alura joined Citadel in October 2023 upon successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Adam Western.


Practice Summary

Alura is a persuasive and incisive advocate with experience of prosecuting and defending the breadth of criminal proceedings in the Crown Court, Magistrates’ Court and Youth Court. She makes clear and structured submissions and has handled complex multi-defendant trials in the Magistrates’ Court.

In the Crown Court, Alura has experience of the breadth of criminal work. She has appeared on appeals against conviction and sentence for serious offences from the Youth Court and worked with defendants with additional needs such as ADHD.

Alura is a personable, professional, and calm advocate and gives realistic advice to clients while remaining empathetic.

Alura is a Level 2 CPS advocate and has also appeared on behalf of the National Probation Service, West Mercia Police, and the RSPCA.

Details of practice

Podcasts

Photos

videos

Further Information

Scholarships and Awards:
  • Middle Temple Queen Mother Scholar 2021-2022
  • University of Birmingham Chamberlain Award- 2020-2021
  • Academic Scholarship to Moreton Hall School 2016-2018
Memberships:
  • The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

Downloads

Witness Familiarisation Support And Courses

These are a few examples of courses in which our members have been involved:

  • Witness familiarisation with trainee police officers and special constables from Northamptonshire Police, where the officers were questioned regarding their statements about ‘mock’ arrest exercises
  • Similar exercises with detectives from the West Midlands Police
  • Witness familiarisation with officers of the Northamptonshire Probation Service.  These officers were given training on the process of giving evidence in sentencing hearings in the Magistrates Court and Crown Court
  • Expert witness familiarisation and training, with expert witnesses such as independent Forensic Scientists, and officers of the Health and Safety Executive. The exercises involved questioning regarding expert reports prepared by the participants

Equal Opportunity Policy

 

Citadel’s members come from a range of backgrounds and everyone is treated with the same respect as part of our Chamber’s community. 

 

We operate an equal opportunity policy and act in accordance with the Bar Code of Conduct and the Equality Code for the Bar.

 

We seek to prevent direct or indirect discrimination towards our clients, staff, tenants and pupils, on the grounds of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality or citizenship, political persuasion, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or age.

Maternity / Paternity Policy

We support all members  who  are fortunate enough to become parents.   Whilst Citadel has written policies dealing with issues of maternity and paternity leave for members of Chambers and support staff, we also try to be flexible in our approach and to accommodate individual needs.

Uniquely (to our knowledge) we offer direct financial support to members returning from parental leave in order to cushion the cash flow impact of return to practice . 

Click here to listen to a podcast about our members with children and how we deal with childcare issues.