Giovanni Di Stefano, Serving Civil Detainee Issues Claim Against Dominic Raab for 17 million Pounds

Giovanni Di Stefano, AKA ‘The Devils’ Advocate’ is pursuing a claim for false imprisonment, unlawful detention, and loss of earnings, as a consequence, against the Secretary for Justice, Dominic Raab. Di Stefano was sentenced to a term of 14 years imprisonment on 27 March 2013 at Southwark Crown Court. That sentence expired on the 27 March 2020. However, release was conditional that he paid into the court £2 million pounds. Di Stefano raised various legal arguments including the question of ability to pay as opposed to unwilling to pay and further raised the question that in 2016 the Lord Chief Justice specifically specified in a Judgement that any default term was not consecutive. Further files on Di Stefano at the CPS, Police, Crown Court, and Court of Appeal have all suddenly vanished.

Background: On the 22 March 2014, a default term on confiscation was imposed in the term of 8 and a half years. In 2016, the Lord Chief Justice on Appeal reduced the default term to six years on appeal, and specifically did not order that term to be consecutive. On the 7 February 2017, the Westminster Magistrates Court issued a Warrant of Commitment for 2190 days specifically confirming the default was not consecutive. On the 30 April 2018, the London Regional Confiscation Unit issued a letter to the Claimant confirming that the Claimant was serving his default sentence. In 2015, the Court of Appeal awarded the Claimant 56 days loss of time. The Claimants release date was thus, the 21 May 2020. The Parole Licence issued to the Claimant, clearly stating that the Claimant was being released on the 21 May 2020. The default term expired on the 7 February 2020, and from the 21 May 2020 the Claimant has been falsely and unlawfully detained and as a consequence has suffered damages, and loss of earnings.

Giovanni Di Stefano, age 66, who became known as the Devil's Advocate for taking on "unwinnable" cases, was convicted on 25 charges including deception, fraud and money laundering between 2001 and 2011 at London's Southwark Crown Court. Whilst in prison, he has supported numerous serving prisoners, who were 'Miscarriages of Justice' and vigorously opposed, 'Joint Enterprise'.

Jim Sheridan takes on ‘The Devil’s Advocate’
Jim Sheridan, the six times Oscar nominated writer and director and his core documentary team has bought the exclusive rights to ‘The Devil’s Advocate', a biography of life with the infamous ‘lawyer’, Giovanni Di Stefano by his son Michael Di Stefano, and are currently in negotiations for a limited documentary series with broadcasters and major platforms. Sheridan, the acclaimed producer and storyteller has earmarked the story of the notorious lawyer, dubbed by the press as 'The Devil’s Advocate, as one of his key projects for 2021 and 2022.

The working title is ‘The Devil’s Advocate – How to Win Fiends and Influence Despots’. Giovanni Di Stefano represented a collection of dictators and major crime figures, before being jailed for masquerading as a lawyer, it transpired that he had no formal legal qualifications. Di Stefano’s cast of clients was impressive including Manuel Noriega, Saddam Hussein, Tariq Aziz, Ali Hassan al-Majid (known as Chemical Ali), Slobodan Milosevic, the Warlord Arkan, Charles Manson and gangsters Charlie Richardson and Brink’s Matt Heist bandit - John ’Goldfinger’ Palmer, amongst many other villains, convicted murderers and despots. Sheridan said “It’s very easy to see this as a dramatic feature, but I think for now - the documentary form will suit the story better.

This is an intriguing story and truly unique. The lead character is simply unbelievable, and we are delighted to have the exclusive co-operation of Giovanni, his family, his long-term assistant and his personal lawyer to tell the story." [Release Date: Spring 2022. The production team have already filmed in Italy, the UK, Belgrade, and Spain and conducted prison interviews with Giovanni Di Stefano. The project is based upon a forthcoming biography which is due to be released in conjunction with the release of the documentary project in 2022.