Famed defence lawyer Joe Beltrami dies at 83

Joseph Beltrami, the Glasgow solicitor whose name became a byword for criminal defence, died last night at the age of 83, his family has announced.

Over a 50 year career Mr Beltrami represented more than 300 clients facing murder charges, securing some notable acquittals. He gained particular prominence for his seven year campaign, along with Ludovic Kennedy, to secure a Royal Pardon for Patrick Meehan, convicted in 1969 for the murder of Rachel Ross, but ultimately pardoned when Mr Beltrami revealed that another man, McGuiness, had admitted to him that he had been involved – a disclosure he could make after McGuiness had himself been killed. 

After qualifying and undertaking national service, Mr Beltrami set up his own practice in 1958, specialising in criminal law. He became involved in high profile cases from an early stage and soon acquired a reputation for thorough preparation and an instinct for any weakness in the Crown case. However he always maintained his professional independence and detachment from his clients.

A campaigner for solicitors to be allowed extended rights of audience, Mr Beltrami was one of the first group of solicitor advocates to qualify for extended rights of audience in the High Court of Justiciary, and thereafter successfully defended in that court a client charged with murder.

He retired in 2008.

The Glasgow Bar Association is among those that have already offered their condolences and tributes.

Thomas Ross, President of the Scottish Criminal Bar Association, said: “The Scottish Criminal Bar Association is extremely sad to learn of the passing of Joseph Beltrami. Perhaps the first lawyer in Scotland to specialise in criminal law, he laid the path for all of us to follow. No counsel instructed by him failed to learn from his guidance. Known fondly as 'Big Joe', he will never be forgotten.”

Describing him as a "towering figure in Scotland's legal landscape", Alistair Morris, President of the Law Society of Scotland, added: "Joe became a household name as one of the country’s foremost criminal defence solicitors, and after campaigning for extended rights for solicitors to represent clients in Scotland’s higher courts, qualified as one of the first solicitor advocates. We were delighted to award him honorary life membership of the Society in 2009 for the enormous contribution he made to the solicitors’ profession during a career which spanned more than 50 years."