Frederick Geoffrey Lawrence

Sir Geoffrey Lawrence
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
Justice of the High Court
In office
1965–1967
Personal details
NationalityBritish
For the Nuremberg war crimes judge, see Geoffrey Lawrence, 1st Baron Oaksey.

Sir Frederick Geoffrey Lawrence (5 April 1902 – 3 February 1967) was a British lawyer, High Court Judge, Chairman of the Bar Council and Chairman of the National Incomes Commission.[1] He first came to prominence when he defended Dr John Bodkin Adams in 1957 on a charge of the murder of Mrs Edith Alice Morrell, the first murder case he handled.[1] Prejudicial press coverage of the case prior to the trial suggested Adams was guilty and that the verdict would be a foregone conclusion, but Lawrence successfully secured an acquittal.[2] Adams, if convicted, might have been hanged, had he also been found guilty on a second murder indictment that had been brought.[2] Devlin at the time, and later investigation, suggested Adams was acquitted in part due to inadequate prosecution preparations and also due to the lack of strong and credible evidence.

  1. ^ a b Cullen, Pamela V., A Stranger in Blood: The Case Files on Dr John Bodkin Adams London, Elliott & Thompson, 2006, ISBN 1-904027-19-9
  2. ^ a b Devlin, Patrick. Easing the passing: The trial of Doctor John Bodkin Adams, London, The Bodley Head, 1985.