Sudden Death or Assault Abroad: The Fight for Justice

The premature loss of a loved one is a difficult situation to navigate for most people. When such a loss happens abroad and is clouded with the suggestion of foul play, there is an understandable immediate urgency to find out what happened, if that raises the possibility that the death occurred under suspicious circumstances or there is culpability on the part of an establishment or organisation that has responsibility for the safety of others, such as a hotel, the fight of justice can be a long and difficult road. Similarly, the serious assault of a relative abroad resulting in serious injury is equally challenging.

 

Frequently, especially in countries where the tourist industry features highly in the economy, certain authorities, seek to deflect what are perceived as negative reports that present the country in an adverse light. Relatives often have their concerns dismissed and face long delays for information, also there is often the implication that the deceased’s or injured person’s behaviour was the cause of their demise or injuries. Suggestions that heavy drinking leading to drunkenness, drug taking or reckless behaviour, either separately or all three contributed to the cause of death. Alternatively, an attack is passed off as an accident.

 

Most people have never faced such shocking circumstances before and are often at a loss as to the next steps to take. Frequently a bereaved family cannot penetrate the barriers thrown up and are fobbed off or misled as to their rights. Giambrone and Partners multi-jurisdictional lawyers have extensive experience relating to suspicious deaths, criminal assaults or accidents abroad and can guide and assist families to navigate to the truth and ensure that their legal position is not compromised. 

 

In May 2025 the British parliament discussed the impact of murder abroad drawing attention to the difficulties bereaved relatives experience when navigating bureaucratic systems and legal procedures that are completely unfamiliar and often very different from the British system. All this at a time or mourning. 

 

Each year approximately 80 families experience to loss of a relative to murder abroad. They frequently are presented with documents related to the death which are untranslated which expands the time it takes to both understand the situation and seek justice. In some cases, it can take four or five years to obtain a fair and just conclusion where the perpetrator is held to account for their actions. The Government provides some assistance but the recent parliamentary debate highlighted that there were a number of improvements required if the information provided was to actually be of the maximum assistance to bereaved families. Families need assistance from organisations and firms that have actual expertise in managing cases of murder abroad. 

 

Vincenzo Senatore, Senior Partner of Giambrone and Partners LLP, London, has extensive experience in guiding families through obtaining justice for their deceased relative. Our lawyers liaise with organisations such as Murdered Abroad to provide the maximum competency to bereaved families when assisting them to achieve their objectives. 

 

 

The case of Helen Smith, who died in Saudi Arabia in 1979, established a legal precedent in England and Wales, creating a duty for coroners to investigate deaths of British citizens that occur abroad provided the remains are returned to the UK and the death is considered violent, unnatural, or the cause is unknown under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/contents. Giambrone and Partners can assist in all the practical aspects involved such as repatriation and representing you at the inquest, including approaching a coroner to request a post mortem in the UK to assist in establishing the facts involved in the death. This provision acts as a failsafe enabling accountability for fatal incidents and serious violent attacks overseas. 

 

There are wide variations in both the laws and the way some acts of violence against the person, even when leading the death, are perceived in countries around the world and justice can be elusive without a persistent legal pressure. Giambrone and Partner’s team of criminal lawyers have expertise and experience in penetrating the walls of obfuscation frequently thrown up around such cases and they bring determined tenacity in the pursuit of justice for our clients, recognising the destructive effect of sudden loss coupled with the strong suspicion that their loved one has suffered, not only the loss of life or serious attack but a serious miscarriage of justice in that the event is not taken seriously in the country in which it occurred and concerns of a bereaved family are brushed aside.

 

Our lawyers will doggedly fight for justice for you, investigating every avenue to ensure you will have both an explanation and justice for your loved one.

 

Each year approximately 80 families experience to loss of a relative to murder abroad. They frequently are presented with documents related to the death which are untranslated which expands the time it takes to both understand the situation and seek justice. In some cases, it can take four or five years to obtain a fair and just conclusion where the perpetrator is held to account for their actions. The Government provides some assistance but the parliamentary debate highlighted that there were a number of improvements required if the information provided was to actually be of the maximum assistance to bereaved families. Families need assistance from organisations and firms that have actual expertise in managing cases of murder abroad. 

 

Our lawyers liaise with organisations such as Murdered Abroad to provide the maximum competency to bereaved families when assisting them to achieve their objectives. 

 

Vincenzo Senatore is the Head of Legal Practice at Giambrone & Partners LLP. He is qualified in four jurisdictions with Higher Rights of Audience in Italy, admitted as a Solicitor Advocate in England & Wales (with Higher Rights of Audience), Solicitor in the Republic of Ireland, np, and Solicitor in Northern Ireland. He is also qualified to plead before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

 

After completing his studies as an Erasmus student at the Paris-Lodron Universität of Salzburg (Austria), Vincenzo graduated from the University of Naples “Federico II” (Italy) and subsequently moved to the United States, where he obtained a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Business Transactions and Trade Law at The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, Washington, DC.

 

To date, Vincenzo Senatore is the only Italian lawyer registered on the List of Professionals of the Italian Embassy in Tokyo and the Italian General Consulate in Osaka. He heads Giambrone’s Japanese Desk in Italy and oversees the Firm’s offices in Tokyo and Osaka through strategic alliances with Kikkawa Law Offices and Meilin International Law Firm.

 

Vincenzo has several years of post-qualification experience in both Civil and Common Law. He has broad understanding of UK and international cross-border transactions across a variety of industry sectors, as well as in international corporate and criminal law. He is a formidable litigator with a demonstrable history of bringing transactions to successful conclusions, providing legal support to partners and delivering strategic advice to his diverse clientele.

 

Alongside his private client and corporate work, Vincenzo has experience assisting families in serious and sensitive matters involving fatal accidents, including aviation and maritime incidents, often involving multiple jurisdictions and coordination with foreign lawyers, technical experts, and public authorities.

 

He is recognised for his careful, analytical, and client-focused approach, particularly in matters requiring both legal precision and a high degree of sensitivity.

 

Giambrone and Partners can assist with all aspects of murder and serious physical attack abroad and help families obtain justice for their relative. For more information on how Giambrone and Partners can deal with your issue please click here.