Host Sarah Henry interviews Keir Monteith KC from Garden Court Chambers, discussing his pivotal work with the Art Not Evidence campaign. Keir explores the use of rap lyrics as evidence in court, shining a light on the systemic racism that pervades the criminal justice system. He shares the story of Ademola Adedeji, an aspiring law student whose conviction for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm was quashed after new evidence revealed he had been wrongfully identified in a video in which drill music played. This case, part of the Manchester 10 appeal, underscores the urgent need for reform. Listen in and support the Art Not Evidence campaign, fighting for a fairer criminal justice system by advocating for a restriction on the use of creative and artistic expression as evidence in criminal trials.

Keir Monteith KC is a highly sought-after leading silk who represents clients facing heavyweight criminal allegations.

He has defended in numerous murders, industrial-scale Class A drug importations, high profile National Crime Agency cases, £100M frauds, multi-million-pound confiscations, escape from custody cases and heavily armed Organised Crime Group conspiracies.

Keir is ranked for criminal law in Chambers UK and the Legal 500. He is also ranked in Tier 1 for Fraud in the Legal 500. Keir is an Honorary Professor of Law and Simon Fellow at the University of Manchester. He is currently briefed in two murder cases; has obtained leave to appeal in a murder; is instructed in a high profile triple murder CCRC application and is briefed in a multi-handed Class A drugs conspiracy allegedly involving a machine gun, other firearms and a turnover of almost 1 metric tonne – 35M worth of cocaine.

Keir sits as a Recorder (part-time Crown Court Judge) and is a training tutor for the Judicial College.

Keir acted for Ademola Adedeji in his historic and ground-breaking appeal, where his conviction for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm was quashed in early 2025.

Links:

For more on Keir Monteith KC’s work:

https://gardencourtchambers.co.uk/barrister/keir-monteith-kc/

For super merchandise to support Art not Evidence: Art Not Evidence official store – Art Not Evidence shop

Art not Evidence Campaign

https://artnotevidence.org/