Deanna Heer KC

Practice Areas

Appointed Senior Treasury Counsel in 2022, Deanna is a highly experienced criminal barrister who is regularly instructed in the most serious and high-profile cases. For over a decade she has specialised in the prosecution of homicide offences at the Central Criminal Court. In 2020 she was named The Times Lawyer of the Week following her successful prosecution of Jonty Bravery who threw a child from the viewing platform of the Tate Modern.

She frequently appears before the Court of Appeal in respect of appeals against conviction and sentence and advises the Attorney General on References to the Court of Appeal on questions of law and sentencing. In 2021, following a four-day appeal which involved questioning multiple experts she successfully persuaded the Court of Appeal to uphold the convictions in the case of the so-called ‘Freshwater Five’.

Deanna is also an acknowledged expert in health and safety law and has specialised in this area for many years, appearing in the leading case of R v Tangerine Confectionary in the Court of Appeal.

She is experienced in appearing at inquests, including those involving juries, and is currently instructed in the inquest into the death of Belly Mujinga who died during the Covid 19 pandemic.

She sits as a Recorder of the Crown Court.