News

Mother’s tribute to dead barrister

Published

12 years ago

November 20, 2013

THE MOTHER of a newly qualified barrister found dead in the Thames on Friday has paid tribute to her son.

The body of Gianni Sonvico, 23, was found in the water at Greenwich Pier at approximately 10am, Friday November 8 – two weeks after he was reported missing.

Police are thought to be treating his death as a tragic accident, but it remains unclear what happened to the young barrister.

Mr Sonvico’s mother, Karen Chandler, a 51-year-old charity worker from Fishguard, said: “My happiest times with Gianni were watching box sets with him – either glued to The Sopranos on my sofa, or watching The Wire in different countries but simultaneously, texting constantly.

“We have received incredible support from Gianni’s friends in London, childhood friends who travelled to London to help with the search, his colleagues and the wider legal community, which clearly cared for one of ‘their own’.”

Mr Sonvico was last seen at 11pm on Friday October 25 leaving Tower Hill tube station, after attending a social function for young barristers. A Facebook group urging anyone with information to come forward was joined by more than 2,000 people. Mr Sonvico’s sister, Maya, 22, also launched an appeal on YouTube.

Mr Sonvico graduated from Queen Mary University of London before completing his Bar Professional Training Course at Kaplan Law School this summer.

“Someone said to me recently that, where others looked down, Gianni always looked up. He was single-minded in his ambition to be a criminal defence barrister, partly because to him it represented the purest form of advocacy, and partly because of a passionate belief in the British justice system, and that everyone should have proper representation,” said Mrs Chandler.

“Gianni was involved in the campaign against legal aid cuts which he saw as a real threat to this [the justice system], and the only fitting legacy for my son would be if everyone redoubled their efforts to oppose them.”

Mr Sonvico was also an avid Arsenal supporter and lived near the club’s Emirates Stadium in Highbury. Mrs Chandler said that Arsenal and their current position at the top of the league was a source of “happiness in Gianni’s life” and that he “was a proud season ticket holder”.

Mrs Chandler described her son as “sarcastic, acerbic, articulate and someone who really cared about people but tried his very best to hide it.

“He was resilient. And his friends constantly describe to me how much he was loving his life, and grabbing it with both hands.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

12 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

12 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

12 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.