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News items
from 1999
items are updated when fresh news comes in;
to find particular cases, go to the CASES page from menu above, and click on the name of the person concerned

Tony Shepherd

jailed in 2003 for the murder of Lee Chesaites

On 1 November 2002, 19 year-old Lee Chesaites was out drinking with some friends in London’s East End. Near the Prince of Wales pub the group bumped into a group of girls on a night out. Lee Chesaites subjected one girl to racist abuse and, it was claimed, Tony Shepherd punched Chesaites in the mouth. But Shepherd has always denied he was present and another man admitted to striking the youth.

Chesaites phoned his father Anthony to collect him. After he arrived, Anthony Chesaites said, a man he later identified as Tony Shepherd walked over and shot Lee Chesaites at close range. Another witness alsoidentified Tony Shepherd as the shooter. But others said this woman was some distance away at the time.

Shortly before the ID parades, a policeman asked a witness to point out Tony Shepherd in a photo. He wasn’t even on the investigating squad and had no legitimate purpose in asking; he didn’t tell the truth when confronted. What was he really up to?
Tony Shepherd’s lawyer, James Saunders, says he was moved to take on the case because of overwhelming concerns about the close relationship between a police officer called DS Butters and one of the key prosecution witnesses. 

Inside Justice is investigating this case

Read more in May 2013
Fight for Bow pub landlord's innocence gathers pace
Docklands & East London Advertiser 19 May 2013

INNOCENT's chairpersons for 2013

At its AGM on 6 February 2013, INNOCENT elected Martin Foran and Simone Ricketts to be its joint chairpersons.
Both are really enthusiastic about the work of INNOCENT and keen to raise public awareness of the growing problem of miscarriage of justice.
Martin Foran was fitted up twice over 30 years ago, by members of the notorious West Midlands Serious Crime Squad. He has campaigned ever since to overturn his own convictions, and to help many others who are also suffering from terrible injustices due to the corruption of the criminal justice system. His 1985 convictions were overturned by the Court of Appeal in April 2013.
Simone Ricketts supports a prisoner wrongly convicted of murder. She is passionate about challenging police malpractice and corruption and the miscarriages of justice which result from it.
We hope to bring you more information about these cases in the near future.

David Norris

In January 2012 David Norris was convicted, along with Gary Dobson, of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, with the assistance of the joint enterprise law. An application for leave to appeal was refused in August 2012.
On a new website, www.freedavidnorris.com, David Norris writes that he is innocent of this crime, and provides reasons why we should believe his claim.
The use of the problematic joint enterprise law and the tenuous evidence used to convict David Norris both indicate that this conviction and the evidence supporting it should be reviewed carefully and critically.

Stephen Lawrence murder timeline
report on trial verdict 4 Jan 2012

William Beck

William Beck was 20 when he was arrested for an armed robbery of a post van in Livingston, Scotland in December 1981. 31 years later, after serving 6 years in prison for a conviction based exclusively on eyewitness identification, his case was referred for a new appeal, but the appeal was refused.

30 April 2013: appeal refused - see
Wullie and Dr Michael Naughton speak on Radio Scotland 1hr 49mins into the programme
Wullie writes: 'I want to thank the Innocent Project at Bristol University. I cannot thank Dr Michael Naughton, Gabe Tan, students Mark & Ryan enough for all their hard work, and for this I will be forever in their debt. I have no doubt whatsoever it was the Innocent Project that convinced SCCRC to refer my case.' ( click here for more info )

19 August 2011 - the University of Bristol Innocence Project (UoBIP) took on Mr Beck’s case and submitted a response on his behalf following two rejections by the Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission.
Although Mr Beck claims that he was in Glasgow the entire day at the time of the robbery, some 40 miles away from where the crime occurred, he was convicted on the evidence of five eyewitnesses, only two of whom identified Mr Beck in an identity parade. Postgraduate law student Mark Allum, who has worked on the case pro bono with fellow student Ryan Jendoubi, said: “Mr Beck’s conviction was based primarily upon identification evidence part of which the trial judge referred to as unreliable and part of which he suggested the jury should treat with great care. Recently the courts have become increasingly reluctant to base convictions solely upon eyewitness testimony especially since studies have exposed the fallibility of such testimony."

For more info go to
www.innocencenetwork.org.uk/news.htm
and follow links

John Twomey, Glen Cameron, Barry Hibberd, Peter Blake
First trial without a jury since 2003 Criminal Justice Act

Convicted in March 2010 of the 2004 Heathrow £1.75m armed robbery by a judge without a jury.
Alleged mastermind John Twomey had been previously arrested in 1977 by the Met's Flying Squad for an armed bank robbery. Detectives claimed to have found a sawn 0ff shotgun at his home, but Twomey said it was planted.During a subsequent investigation into corruption in the Flying Squad, Operation Countryman, Twomey gave evidence against 4 officers. The officers were acquitted, but the charges against him were dropped.

The juryless court trial was the fourth trial for Twomey on the Heathrow robbery charge. 3 previous trials had failed, at a cost of £20-30m.
Allegations of jury tampering are undoubtedly what was used to justify the juryless trial (the first of its kind following the Criminal Justice Act 2003 which permitted this). The defendants were never told the reason why they were not allowed a jury, or shown any evidence supporting jury tampering allegations. Lord Chief Justice Igor Judge gave the go ahead for the trial, heard and decided by Mr Justice Treacy. The case against Twomey relied on an 'expert' witness who claimed to identify him as one of the robbers because his gait matched that of a robber who appeared on CCTV for 11 seconds.

The 4 appealed against the verdict but their appeals were rejected by Lord Judge on 20 January 2011.

thanks to MOJUK for allerting INNOCENT to this case

First trial without jury approved
Statement by John Twomey
MOJUK website
Waseem Mirza
University of Gloucestershire Innocence Project submits application to Criminal Cases Review Commission

Waseem Mirza was convicted of murdering Christine Askey at her home in Preston, Lancashire, in January 2001.
The prosecution’s case appeared strong. Mr Mirza's semen was found on Ms Askey's top and saliva was found on a cigarette butt. Mr Mirza’s claim is that he visited the victim’s house where he shared a cigarette with her and received oral sex; this would explain and semen and saliva found.
There was evidence of other men having been in the victim’s house, including male hairs found in the bath, male saliva found on a glass and unidentified semen found on a shirt.
The victim’s injuries had in all probability been caused by a right-handed person. Mr Mirza is naturally left-handed and has previously sustained injuries to his right hand which would have made it difficult for him to inflict the injuries found on the victim.
Mr Mirza claims that he has an alibi for the time the murder was committed as he was at home with his mother, sister and girlfriend.
Since Mr Mirza’s conviction, an unsigned letter was sent from India to a local newspaper in which the anonymous writer confessed to the murder.
Mr Mirza's case is included in a dossier of cases compiled by the Innocence Network UK. - click here for a PDF of the dossier. Click here to read an article on the appeal from the Lancashire Evening Post.
The University of Gloucestershire Innocence Project made its submission to the Criminal Cases Review Commission on behalf of Mr Mirza in July 2012 .

Bradford 3
Mohammed Niaz Khan, Abid Ashiq Hussain and Sharaz Yaqub

Convicted of the murder a known drug dealer Shazad Hussain who was gunned down in 2004 in Bradford, on the word of Adnan Ahmed who claimed the 3 had confessed to him. Abid Hussain was nowhere near the scene and talking to a police officer at the time of the killing, so the prosecution used the controversial joint enterprise law to convict him.
After the trial and unsuccessful appeal, a detective constable involved in the investigation, Wasim Bashir, made a statement that he had fabricated evidence in the case. But so far the police have managed to silence him...
Mohammed Niaz Khan's account is on a new MOJUK web page www.mojuk.org.uk/MOJUK2012/Bradford3.html .

David Preston

Convicted of conspiracy to import drugs, David Preston received a 21 year prison sentence. But the only evidence against him was a poor quality covert recording of a casual meeting with an old friend outside a Liverpool warehouse, 'interpreted' by the police to suit their own ends.

INNOCENT supports this case, and we recommend you to read the excellent article by Bob Woffinden in the January 2012 issue of Inside Time.

The Fingerprint Inquiry, Scotland

The Report of the Fingerprint Inquiry was published on 14 December 2011. On 14 March 2008 the Scottish Government established a public inquiry into the case of former policewoman Shirley McKie which Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill said has "cast a cloud over the individuals involved and has been a source of serious concern for the criminal justice system for the past decade." Immediately after the publication of the findings Tom Nelson, director of forensic services at the Scottish police services authority (SPSA) issued a personal apology in public over the handling of the matter to Shirley McKie and her father Iain. See Guardian report by Eamonn O'Neill 14 12 2011. Key recommendations of the Report include:

  • Fingerprint evidence should be recognised as opinion evidence, not fact, and those involved in the criminal justice system need to assess it as such on its merits.Examiners should discontinue reporting conclusions on identification or exclusion with a claim to 100% certainty or on any other basis suggesting that fingerprint evidence is infallible.Features on which examiners rely should be demonstrable to a lay person with normal eyesight as observable in the mark.
  • A finding of identification should not be made if there is an unexplained difference between a mark and a print.

The full report is now avaialble online at www.thefingerprintinquiryscotland.org.uk/inquiry/3127.html

The Case of the Planted Balaclava

Norman Grant was convicted of robbery and kidnap in March 2011 after a trace of his DNA was found on a balaclava - but did the balaclava come from where the police claim to have found it?
Norman's own excellent account of this dramatic case can now be read online on the MOJUK website - click here
BBC news report

posted 28 11 2011

Taking your case to the European Court of Human Rights ( ECHR )

The organisation Liberty has a good summary of how to take your case to the ECHR - click here
You will need to demonstrate which of your rights under the European Convention of Human Rights have been breached. Most criminal case applications will involve breaches of article 6, the right to a fair trial. A further Liberty page lists the articles and has links to pages about each of the rights - click here.
To download the Convention text and application form, click here (pdf format)

posted 28 11 2011

New version of Justice's
How to Appeal
A guide to the criminal appeal system
published August 2011

FREE to prisoners

How to Appeal provides simple, accessible information on the appeal system and procedures – for prisoners and those who advise them. The booklet is in a simple question and answer format – reflecting the main questions asked by prisoners. It will also be invaluable to anyone who may be asked to give advice on how the criminal appeal system works.How to get your copy of How to Appeal:

  • As a FREE PDF download – click here FREE printed copies available for prisoners and their families - please contact JUSTICE, 59 Carter Lane, London EC4V 5AQ
    Email admin@justice.org.uk
    phone 020 7329 5100
  • At £3 for a single copy (discounts available for bulk purchase).

INNOCENT highly recommends this booklet

Colin Norris

Nurse convicted in 2008 of the murders of 4 elderly patients: fresh scientific evidence strongly suggests deaths were natural

New study contradicts prosecution evidence 21 May 2013
 Fresh evidence sent to Criminal Cases Review Commission
13 December 2012

Colin Norris had the misfortune to be at work on the occasions when four patients died in circumstances which Leeds hospital doctors were unable to explain.
His lawyer, Jeremy Moore, said: "It seems that they [West Yorkshire Police] trawled through hospital records looking for evidence of patients that might have died suspiciously but it seems they only cherry-picked those cases when Colin was on duty and ignored any others that might have occurred in the hospital."
New medical research shows these deaths are very likely to have occurred naturally, says international expert on insulin poisoning Prof Vincent Marks.
The case is now being reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
Read more at Colin Norris website
Petition in support of Colin
news reports at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15126322 and
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15068743
4 October 2011

John Robertson

Jailed for the murder of his wife 23 years ago

12 July 2011: John Robertson's supporters have given authorities the name of an Edinburgh woman who is said to have a violent criminal history, knew the victim and allegedly confessed to friends that she carried out the murder. They are calling on the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) to urgently review Robertson's conviction on the basis of the fresh information and pass his case to the appeal court.

Two years ago, experts found that DNA from the crime scene actually belonged to a woman. The DNA sample was put through the national criminal database and a woman, who was around 24 at the time of the killing, is thought to have come up as a possible match.

John McManus, co-ordinator of Miscarriages of Justice Organisation (MOJO), which has championed Robertson's case, said: "We're not saying this woman was the murderer, we're saying she could be. If the woman identified as a suspect was the same person on the DNA database then I think the SCCRC would have no choice but to send the case back to the appeal court."

MOJO said Robertson's supporters had carried out in-depth inquiries to identify the woman, who is understood to live in the city, as a suspect. Mr McManus said: "She knew Selina and came from the same area. This woman also has a reputation for violence and allegedly confessed to friends that she was actually the person responsible. She's also the right age. The SCCRC have the information. All it would take is a simple yes or no."

Read more at http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Woman-is-new-suspect-in.6800045.jp

Victor Nealon

Convicted of attempted rape in 1996 and given a life sentence, Victor Nealon has been denied parole because he steadfastly maintains his innocence

The assault occurred in Redditch in the West Midlands. The victim's clothes were never examined for DNA by the police, but Mark Newby, solicitor at Jordan's LLP, commissioned DNA examination and anlysis which showed that an unidentified male's DNA was on the garments. The original identification procedures were highly questionable.

Read more in article by Gwyn Topham, 9 June 2011

Jennifer Liehne

Conviction overturned May 2011
24 years after death of her baby, prosecution was prompted by social workers

Jennifer Liehne, 47, from Edinburgh, was convicted in 2006 of the culpable homicide of her own baby, who died in 1982. Her conviction was overturned following a reference by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Judges at the Scottish Court of Appeal said the judge at her trial failed to explain properly to the jury some of the complex medical and legal issues involved in the case. Following the 7 month old baby's death, a post-mortem examination concluded that Jacqueline died as the result of a cot death, explained by pneumonia. The decision to re-open the case was prompted by social workers in 2001 when Ms Liehne became pregnant again and two daughters had already been taken away from her and put into care. Doctors then questioned the original findings. She will not be re-tried.

read more http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-13560758 26 May 2011

Prabu and Jathies Santharatnam

Served 8 years for murder; conviction overturned in April 2011

Prabu Santharatnam and Nimalan Nadarajah, 30, were found guilty of the murder of and perverting the course of justice. Jathies Santharatnam and Mayuran Seevaratnam, 29, were convicted of manslaughter. They served 8 years in jail as part of a group of five men found guilty of killing or plotting to attack laundry worker Sellathurai Balasingham in 2001. Their convictions were overturned at the Court of Appeal on 12 April 2011, after new witness evidence – which Mr Santharatnam could not discuss as it is the subject of possible legal action – emerged.

Read more in Your local Guardian

April 2011 Newsletter

SAFARI provides "powerful and positive information that is likely to be of use to those who are in a position to make necessary changes in our investigative and judicial systems, those who have been affected by false accusations, including the family & friends of victims, and those who have suffered from being pressurised into making false accusations. There may be little you can do about a problem by yourself, but, by working together, we can make and are making a difference. We collect, research, collate and share information on this subject. SAFARI shares news of successes so that all can benefit from them."In its April 2011 Newsletter, SAFARI prints advice from the Criminal Cases Review Commission on how to provide evidence that could get your case referred to the Court of Appeal for a fresh appeal.

Link to Newsletter: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~safari/newsletters/No79.pdf
Link to SAFARI website: http://safari-uk.org
Link to UAI advice on making an application to the CCRC: click here

Innocence Projects: the courts of last resort

In the US, the Innocence Project has freed 260 people imprisoned for crimes they did not commit – and inspired a new film starring Hilary Swank. In the UK the work is just beginning, but the lawyers who only take the most desperate cases of injustice have a first victory in their sights...Starring Drs Michael Naughton and Gabe Tan, this article describes the work of the University of Bristol Innocence Project, and how it and its sister innocence projects came into being.

Click here to read more in the The Observer 9 Jan 2011 article by Sarfraz Mansoor, 9 January 2011
Links:
University of Bristol Innocence Project
Innocence Network UK

Ian Henderson

Convicted of indecent assault in July 1990, Ian Henderson served two years in jail after his alleged victim, Carrie Crownshaw, from Luton, falsely accused him of indecently assaulting her when she was 14. 20 years later, Ms Crownshaw confessed to police that the abuse accusations against Mr Henderson were not true, adding that her 'sense of guilt' had driven her to come clean. She was given a suspended sentence in May after being prosecuted for perverting the course of justice.Mr Henderson's conviction was overturned on 22 December 2010.

Read more in the Harrow Observer, article by David Baker

Anthony O'Shea
Jailed for 5 months on child pornography charges, Anthony O'Shea argues he was a victim of credit card fraud

Following a failed appeal against conviction, O'Shea's solicitor Chris Saltrese said, "The Court of Appeal decided to hear a two week case in two days by not hearing the evidence. As a result, the Court overlooked the key issues in the written submissions. It substituted its own version of the significant evidence. "The Court's version did not include the core evidence on which the appeal was based. Landslide [the database in which O'Shea's details were found] was not a child pornography portal. It was an internet vehicle through which criminal webmasters processed stolen credit-card information. The evidence is clear but was overlooked by the Court. We would stress that we remain convinced that Operation Ore in general, and this case in particular, was seriously flawed and a miscarriage of justice."Operation Ore began after authorities in America prosecuted the owners of a website called Landslide Inc, which showed child abuse images, and found the details of thousands of credit card users. The names of more than 7,000 Britons were found on the database and some were prosecuted even though raids found no indecent images on their computers. Their lawyers argue that some were victims of a miscarriage of justice, as their credit card details had been stolen and used to buy child pornography.

Peter Johnston, a former computer crime officer for Merseyside Police, told ITV News that officers rounded up people whose details had been linked to internet child pornography despite doubts over their guilt. My view, and it's purely my own view, is that yes there was a witch hunt."
Lee Mockble
Following an attack by football fans, Lee accidentally ran over one of them, who subsequently died. Lee was convicted of murder.

Click here to read about his case
November 2010

Lee's case is supported by West Midlands Against Injustice

Richard Southern
Support needed for Richard Southern

Richard, is now in the health care unit at HMP Garth, he has been on 'Hunger strike' for several weeks and his health is deteriorating.
He is and will always continue to protest is innocence.
Please take time to send a card/letter of solidarity/support to Richard.
Richard Southern
A3952AE
HMP Garth
Ulnes Walton
Leyland
PR26 8N

Click here to read about his case
Anthony Wood

Another unbelievable joint enterprise murder conviction

One of six young people intending to camp out in a Burnley Park, Anthony Wood was horrified when Matthew Maw took his picnic knife and stabbed Louise Evans. Wood tried to stop Maw, unsuccessfully. Now he's got a life sentence with a 23 year tarrif. Read more on the web site set up to support him - click here.

Anthony has appealed, but his appeal was refused.

Kevin Nunn

Convicted of the murder of Dawn Walker near Bury St Edmunds in 2006, on slight and inconclusive evidence.

Omagh bombing expert to probe evidence 21 July 2010

Nunn’s sister Brigitte Butcher said they had forensic scientists Professor Allen Jamieson, who was instrumental in challenging the use of a controversial DNA technique in the Omagh Bomb trial, and Dr Sara Short, who has experience of nearly 1,000 cases, waiting to examine the material held.
Ms Butcher said she had met Prof Jamieson at a miscarriage of justice conference organised by United Against Injustice and said he had subsequently been in touch with Ms Hickman to “offer assistance” where he could.Click here to read more in the East Anglian Daily Times

MP backs Kevin's appeal bid 23 September 2009

Late last year, Nunn's sister Brigitte Butcher asked Suffolk police for material relating to the conviction which was not shown to the court during his trial in 2006.
Almost a year later, the force is yet to comply with her request - despite being instructed to do so by the Information Commissioner's Office. Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley said he was keen to help the family get the documents they needed because he felt there were “unanswered questions” surrounding the case...
click here to read more

A website has been set up by supporters to explain his case. Please visit and judge for yourself whether this man should have been convicted.

JUSTICE FOR KEVIN NUNN

Jim Watts

Serving 12 years for abusing disabled women, but he maintains that the charges of rape and sexual assault against him are a weird fiction

In court, Watts's legal team argued that there was no case to answer as the four woman he is accused of sexually abusing were not safe witnesses

Read more in the 2 June 2010

On 23 July 2010 Jim Watts' appeal against conviction was dismissed. The sentence was reduced to 4 years.

Jimmy Ingram

Died in prison still protesting his innocence
8 April 2010

MOJUK sent out the following message: Jimmy had been suffering from cancer for a long time and was transferred from HMP Maidstone to Kings College Hospital Camberwell on the 19 March 2010 and passed away on 8 April 2010.

MOJUK had been in regular contact with Jimmy over the years. He hated the system and supported without fail all prison protests. He was a prolific letter writer to other prisoners. A long time friend of Clare Barstow (still doing time, still protesting her innocence), they got married some years back.

Will be sadly missed by all who knew him for his resolute battle against the system.

For more information on his case, go to www.mojuk.org.uk/eddie/jimmyingram.html
Jordan Towers

Another conviction under the joint enterprise law

Jordan was out with two friends when one of them produced a knife and stabbed someone. He didn't realise what had happened, but the victim died later. All three were convicted of murder.This case is covered by a clear and well written website, which also explains how the joint enterprise law is applied in practice: click here to visit Justice for Jordan Towers

Article explaining the issues in this case by Sandra Lean

BBC report: Stab-death youths jailed for life 23 November 2007

Northumbria police version: Three get life sentences for killing father
West Yorkshire

Michael Bunting

Michael Bunting, a West Yorkshire uniformed police opfficer, was convicted of an assault after he defended himself against a viscious assault by a man he was arresting. The evidence against him, mainly from a fellow police officer, was inconsistence medical evidence, and other evidence that would have helped him was never used.
Michael has since written a best selling book about his experiences - click here to read about it on our books page.
He has applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to have his case referred to the Appeal Court.

Click here to read more in the Batley & Birstall News 17 December 2009, article by Rebecca Draper

11 December 1999 - 11 December 2009

10 years of reporting on miscarriages of justice, and the situation is getting worse - INNOCENT
Edinburgh

Desmond Uttley: rape conviction overturned after analysis of DNA evidence which police chose not to obtain

10 December 2009: Desmond Uttley went to the help of a drunk 14 year old girl, but she repaid him by alleging he raped her. He was convicted and given a six year sentence.
But the police had not bothered to test swabs taken from the girl. MrUttley's lawyers later had these tested by expert Dr Adrian Linacre of Strathclyde University. These showed contact with three other men, but not with Mr Uttley. His convictin was overturned on appeal. Click here to read more in

and article by Mark McLaughlin in
17 December 2007

Northern Ireland

Diplock (no jury) court convictions overturned

3 December 2009: Diplock courts were courts where non-jury trials were held in Northern Ireland. Alleged terrorist suspects were tried in them from 1973 until they were abolished in 2008. In the early 80s the courts processed hundreds of cases every year in "supergrass" trials in which informers gave evidence against former companions in return for immunity.According to Jim McVeigh of ex-prisoners’ group Coiste na n-Iarchimí, 'Many hundreds of young men and women were sent to prison for long periods of time on the basis of statement evidence that was extracted either through torture or threats. Others were sent to prison on the basis of statement evidence alone that was simply fabricated by RUC [Royal Ulster Constabulary] detectives.'Now Eric Wright, Seamus Brown and Peter McDonald, all convicted in a Diplock court over 30 years ago, are to have their convictions quashed after lawyers for the crown said they would no longer seek to uphold them. Their cases are likely to be followed by hundreds of others wrongly convicted by judges sitting without juries.Click here to read more in article by Laura Friel

See also the case of Charlie McMenamin

Ian Lawless

Murder conviction ruled unsafe 16 June 2009

Convicted of murder of Alf Wilkins in Grimsby in 2001 on evidence that he had confessed while drunk, Ian Lawless, 47, has had his conviction overturned after the Court of Appeal heard fresh medical evidence about his mental condition at the time.
The appeal follows a referral by the Criminal Cases Review Commission and is based upon fresh evidence and in particular the testimony of Professor Gisli Gudjonnsson, an eminent psychologist who has given evidence in many of the countries leading miscarriage cases including the Guildford 4, Derek Bentley , Barry George and others.
Court quashes murder conviction Ian Lawless is represented by solicitor Mark Newby of Jordans LLP

Read more in the Grimsby Telegraph 8 April 2009
and Grimsby Telegraph 17 June 2009

Craig McCreight

Stupid mistake in expert report led to life sentence

Mr McCreight, 37, was found guilty of murdering mother-of-three Yvonne Davidson in 2002.
Evidence produced at the trial showed that the dead woman's liver contained 1,064 mgs of chloroform per kilo on analysis. But the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh heard that the concentration of the chemical had been overstated 1,000 times following an arithmetical error in a laboratory and the true result was 1.064 mg per kilo of chloroform.
We wonder why no independent check was made by his defence at trial.

Read more 1 April 2009

Thomas Bourke

On Monday 22nd November 1993, two Department of Transport Inspectors, Alan Singleton and Simon Bruno, were shot dead while carrying out a routine inquiry at a garage in Stockport. Thomas Bourke, a man without a criminal record and without a motive for the killings, was convicted of their murder. There was no forensic evidence to link Thomas to the murders, the corpses, the murder scene or the alleged getaway car.  There was, however, clear forensic evidence to implicate the key prosecution witnesses, Mitchell and Ridgeway, both of whom received substantial payments for giving evidence.  These payments were dependent upon Thomas being found guilty on their evidence.  Despite their admissions of complicity in murder, these witnesses were given immunity from prosecution. 

for more information, go to Thomas Bourke website:


Waqar Ahmed, Azhil Khan and Afzal Khan
Riot murder convictions quashed
BBC News, Thursday 11th December 2008
Three Asian men who were jailed for life for murdering a 23-year-old black man during riots in Birmingham in 2005 have had their convictions overturned.
Waqar Ahmed, 28, Azhil Khan, 25 and Afzal Khan, 25, denied murdering Isiah Young-Sam during the rioting in Lozells. They were convicted in 2006.
The Appeal Court judge said their convictions should be quashed because evidence was wrongly used.
A retrial has been ordered for the men, who had denied murder.
Mr Young-Sam was stabbed to death during the riots.
The three men convicted of his murder had always maintained that a fourth man was to blame.
The Court of Appeal quashed their convictions saying a secret recording of one of the men encouraging another man to confess was not disclosed to the defence.
The judges said this meant the conviction of this man was unsafe and consequently those of the other two men.

Brendan Dixon and Patrick Docherty

The Privy Council has ordered an appeal in this case. Crucial witness statements, which they claim could have cleared Dixon and Docherty, were not disclosed to the defence at his trial. Dixon, 38, and his co-accused Patrick Docherty, 42, were found guilty in May 2005 of Margaret Irvine's murder in Galston, Ayrshire, despite no forensic evidence linking them to the crime.

Click here for more info:
Attempt to overturn murder conviction as legal team casts doubt on evidence, by John Bynorth
21 June 2008

David Shale

David Shale and accomplice Andrew Short were given life sentences at Bristol Crown Court in 2001 for the murder of Robert Huggett.

Shale's solicitor Maslen Merchant revealed Short has signed a statement confessing that he alone killed Mr Huggett, after 'flipping' when the victim made a homosexual advance towards him ."Andrew Short has exculpated him. We have corroborated and checked what he has been saying." The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) said it believed there was enough fresh evidence to refer the conviction to the Court of Appeal.

Read more in 11 April 2008

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) faces a crisis of confidence after a network of more than a hundred lawyers who specialise in handling police complaints resigned from its advisory body

Many people challenging wrongful convictions are relying on the police complaints system to show up defects in the original police investigation of their cases. But an investigation by Nick Davies of the Guardian has revealed:

  • a failure to provide effective oversight for the work of the police investigators who still handle most complaints;a pattern of favouritism towards the police with some complaints being rejected in spite of apparently powerful evidence in their support;cases of indifference and rudeness towards complainants;extreme delays, with some complaints remaining unresolved after years of inaction and confusion;key decisions being taken by casework managers who have no legal qualifications, little relevant experience and minimal training; and
  • investigators and senior commissioners failing to work effectively with the result that some decisions have had to be overturned with the threat of court action.

Read more in

Chris Nudds

Chris Nudds was convicted in February 2006 of the murder of a traveller by the name of Fred Moss who went missing from home on 30th November 2004.  Although no body was ever found Fred Moss's disappearance was treated as murder.
The supporters of the 'Justice4chrisnudds' campaign are prepared to offer a reward of £10,000 to any person or persons who can offer any information that results in Chris Nudds's murder conviction being overturned...

Visit the Justice For Chris Nudds website

Charlie McMenamin
Charlie McMenamin before his arrest in 1978

Charlie McMenamin,45, was only 16 when he was convicted of terrorist offences in the city and was in custody for three years. His case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.During the hearing it was revealed that on the day the then schoolboy was alleged to have been involved in a gun attack on soldiers in the Bogside he was in a training school after running away from home. That information led to an official in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions telling the RUC that the charges were not to be proceeded with. But the direction was never communicated to the prosecuting lawyer and the teenager was convicted on statements of admission he made to avoid more ill-treatment while in Strand Road police station.source: 25 April 2007
see also 10 April 2007

Charlie McMenamin was questioned illegally, beaten during interrogation and convicted in a non-jury court. Crucial alibi evidence was suppressed and the 16-year-old was bullied into signing a false confession and pleading guilty. While in detention fear and despair drove the Derry teenager to attempt suicide.
In 1980 McMenamin was convicted in a non-jury Diplock court of conspiracy to murder British soldiers and jailed for three years.
Last week Belfast’s Court of Appeal finally quashed McMenamin’s conviction. The case had been referred by the Review Commission, set up to investigate possible miscarriages of justice. Three judges declared a “sense of unease” about the conviction and upheld the appeal.
The McMenamin case is one of a number of cases involving forced confession evidence and the Diplock court system where false convictions have been recently overturned. Other cases have included the conviction of Raymond McCartney, Eamon MacDermott also from Derry and John Boyle from Belfast.
During the McMenamin appeal hearing the court heard vital evidence that was not put before the court during the original trial 27 years ago. The evidence revealed that on the day the schoolboy was alleged to have been involved in a gun attack, McMenamin was in a juvenile training centre after running away from home.

Rules broken
Prior to the 1980 trial, on the basis of this evidence an official for the Director of Public Prosecutions decided that all charges against McMenamin should be dropped. The RUC in Belfast and Coleraine were informed of the DPP’s decision by letter but the directive was not communicated to the Crown prosecutor and the trial went ahead.
Speaking at the Appeal, barrister Eilish McDermott told the court that rules had been broken when the teenager was interrogated alone over a three-day period. McMenamin was a juvenile and the law required a parent or solicitor to be present.
McDermott told the court that at the time the teenager had told a doctor that the RUC had kicked him and he had only signed a confession to avoid further mistreatment. Appeal Judge Campbell said it was appropriate to announce immediately that the convictions should be quashed.

Keran Henderson
Shaken Babies: BBC Panorama's John Sweeney investigates this case and the problem of expert evidence about 'shaken baby syndrome': is it possible to shake a baby to death? 10 March 2008 [programme no longer available online]

"There’s no way my wife could shake a baby to death", Iain Henderson tells Sian Griffiths of
23 December 2007

"On this frosty morning, with yards of yellow ribbon fluttering from the telegraph poles, villagers sport T-shirts printed with “We care 4 Keran”, a slogan repeated on their website Carers 4 Carers, where thousands of pounds have been pledged to pay for a legal appeal. In and out they pop, hugging Iain, offering to talk to journalists, fielding phone calls.

Juror queries baby death verdict

"I will never know as long as I live whether the verdict was right or not because I haven't, we haven't, got all this medical expertise, and I think if the medics can't even decide between themselves, what chance do we have?"Read more on
17 December 2007

Childminder jailed for baby death 13 November 2007

Robert and Lee Firkins

Bothers' Murder Convictions Questioned, by Andy Greenwood
'The cases of two brothers who were jailed for the brutal murder of a couple in Cornwall are to be investigated as a possible miscarriage of justice...
A former prison cell-mate of Robert Firkins testified at the trial that he had boasted, with the words: "Watch Crimewatch and you will see my work."
But that alleged "cell confession" - consistently disputed by Robert Firkins - will now come under the scrutiny of the Criminal Cases Review Commission ... after Appeal Court judges referred the case for investigation.

Read more at www.thisiscornwall.co.uk

Stephen Marsh

Did 'compelling' phone text evidence ever exist?

from the Justice for Stephen Marsh website:
Stephen Marsh was having an affair with Rebecca Harris, he wanted to end that affair and had tried to end it several times. In July 2006 Rebecca Harris murdered Steve's wife Jaz at Steve and Jaz's home in Gorseinon, Swansea. Rebecca Harris claimed that Stephen, who was not there (this is not disputed), sent her texts saying 'Do it' and 'Just Do It' and Stephen was jointly convicted of murder through use of the joint enterprise doctrine. She was sentenced to 12 years in jail, Stephen was sentenced to 18 years.The media repeatedly reported that 'evidence showed' that Stephen sent texts saying the words 'Do It' and 'Just Do It' and anyone could be forgiven for believing that those words must have been physically recovered from a mobile phone. No texts from Stephen to anyone saying any such thing were ever recovered from anywhere - they exist only in the version of events given by the murderer Rebecca Harris...

And as for the dog, well, read more on the
Justice for Stephen Marsh web site
[site not available 21 11 2011]

Stephen Marsh's appeal against conviction was dismissed in December 2009
[item updated 21 11 11]

David Carrington-Jones
16 October 2007 - David Carrington-Jones, convicted of rape and indecent assault against two sisters, had his conviction overturned following a referral by the CCRC.
Sir Igor Judge, sitting with Mr Justice Pitchford and Sir Richard Curtis, said it was "a profoundly troublesome case." A false allegation not only had a "dreadful consequences for the innocent man", but "an insidious effect on confidence in the truth of genuine complaints of rape".
David Carrington-Jones said: "My heart goes out to other men and women who have been put inside because of false allegations they just can't challenge."
Read more on the BBC report

Frank Wilkinson

Frank Wilkinson was found guilty of murder in January 1987. He has now served more than 20 years for a crime he did not commit. Had he lied and admitted guilt, he would have been released years ago. Today, Frank Wilkinson (B.A., M.A., PhD, and winner of several Koestler awards) remains determined to prove his innocence. For more information, visit the website dedicated to achieving

Justice for Frank Wilkinson

Were you fitted up by this conman posing as an expert?

Gene Morrison, of Hyde, Greater Manchester, pretended to be a 'forensic investigator', conned money out of defence lawyers and gave evidence in many cases. He was jailed for 5 years for deception, perjury and perverting the course of justice.
Police want to contact Morrison's former clients, to discover whether any miscarriages of justice have occurred as a result of Morrison's activities. But if you think this man was involved in your case (perhaps under an alias), then INNOCENT recommends that you talk to your lawyer about it, before talking to the police.

Read more in



(all have pictures of Morrison)

Quality Applications: article on the CCRC in Inside Time

Dr Andrew Green advises those considering taking their cases to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to ‘take control’ and to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the application is complete in every detail.
Read more in February 2007

or read the full advice provided on the UAI web site

John Burke

John was convicted of robbery, after the victim had said in court that he was not the man involved! He is to be released after serving 10 years of a 15 year sentence.10 January 2007
More info on MOJUK website

Thomas Rooney

Jailed for nine years for killing a Glasgow taxi driver, Thomas Rooney had his conviction quashed after Scottish appeal judges ruled that the jury's verdict 'lacks rationality'.
'The verdict against the appellant on the culpable homicide charge, in particular, must be regarded as one which no reasonable jury, properly directed, could have returned,' said Judge Osborne. 9 January 2007

Read more:
Miscarriage of justice man freed

Jamie Lee Dunn

Convicted of the murder of Clinton Bailey in Conventry on 4 April 2005 on minimal evidence. A website, Jamie Dunn's fight 4 freedom, gives the basic facts. 12 December 2006

from the Jamie Dunn website: This whole case was said to have started from a fight and led in to a man being shot, that man to be Clinton Bailey from Coventry aged 26. He was released from prison on the 1st April 2005 & was shot in the evening of 4th April, he later died on 16th April as result of the shooting... Gary Higgins is said to have lured Clinton to a pub knowing he was to get shot by Liam Dooley & others ... Clinton recieved a phone call from Liam telling him to come outside to the pub car park which he did do & a hail of bullets was fired at him, he managed to escape over a wall in to a back garden where he then phoned a friend to come & get him because he'd been shot. The friend came & took Clinton to hospital where he remained there till his death 12 days after the shooting, in the first few days Clinton was still able to speak to people before his condition detierated and went in to a coma then later died. In the days he was able to speak it is said that Clinton had named his attackers to certain family members & friends the names being Liam Dooley, Craig Dooley & a Luke which was found to be Luke Turner [but did not mention Jamie Dunn]. It was all said to be set up by Gary Higgins. The 4 was sentenced to 30yrs in jail & Jamie Dunn 26yrs for the role in which he played....... read more on the website...
Patrick Nolan

Life sentence for murder overturned after appeal court heard his 1982 confession was made under duress.
Mr Nolan, who was 19 at the time, was found guilty of bludgeoning 64-year-old Eric Carver to death in Nottingham in1980.Lord Justice Tuckey said: "The proof of murder depended entirely on the confession of a 19-year-old, illiterate man, made in the course of 11 hours of interviews, over three days, without a solicitor present."

Read more in the

CCRC reviews 9 murder and manslaughter cases involving pathologist Michael Heath

The Criminal Cases Review Commission is looking into the cases involving Dr Michael Heath, who quit after criticism from the forensic pathology watchdog.
The cases include that of Michael Stone, serving life for the murders in July 1996 of Lin and Megan Russell, in Kent.
Read more

3 new commissioners appointed to Criminal Cases Review Commission

On 23 October 2006 the Home Secretary, John Reid, announced three new commissioners
of the CCRC. The appointments, which are for five years, will take effect from 1 November 2006 for Mr England and Mr Smith and 1 January 2007 for Ms Goulding.

Mr England was called to the Bar in 1981. He worked on common law and crime cases before joining the Director of Public Prosecutions Office as a legal assistant. He has been Chief Crown Prosecutor of West Mercia since 1999 and
a member of the CPS Board since 2004.

Mr Smith is a solicitor with considerable experience in the Criminal Justice system. He has been a partner in a nationally respected practice [Birmingham law firm Glaisyers] and sits on a number of committees, including chairmanship of the Serious Fraud Association and membership of the Criminal Appeal Lawyers' Association and Crown Court Rules Committee. [See cases of John Cummiskey and Christopher Hagans & John Wilson.]

Ms Goulding trained as a nurse working initially as a ward sister in Oxford and London before becoming a Senior Nurse Manager at St Thomas' Hospital. She has worked for several NHS Trusts in the capacity of Director of Corporate Affairs,
Director of Nursing and Chief Executive. She read law and became a solicitor in 1999. She was appointed as Chief Officer for Social Services, Health, Education, Housing, Life Long learning and Culture for Bury Metropolitan District Council from 1999 until being appointed to her last position as
Chief Executive of the Fylde Primary Care Trust in 2002.

Home Office press release 23 10 06

William Gage

Convicted of murder of drug dealer Justin McAlroy in 2002 in Glasgow on seriousaly defective eyewitness evidence. Appealed in 2005 and lost. William Gage has now applied to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission to have his case referred for a second appeal.
Private Eye no.1168 29 September 2006 reports on this case 'The thief, the dealer, his killer, and the Labour ministers.'

report on the appeal
Scotland: fuller information on this case

Warren Blackwell

Rape conviction overturned after a CCRC investigation discovered the complainant had made at least 5 other fake allegations of sexual and physical assault to police; had been married twice and made false allegations against both husbands, one of whom was a policeman; had accused her own father of sexual assault, but police concluded she had made it up; and accused a boy of rape when she was a teenager, only for a doctor to discover she was still a virgin. INNOCENT asks: why did the police not discover or disclose this evidence before the original trial, or preferably before Mr Blackwell was even charged?Read more in the

Man freed but serial rape accuser remains anonymous, by Sam Greenhill, 12 September 2006
Sex attack liar named by Peer, by Sam Greenhill 19th October 2006
The real scandal of the woman who sent an innocent man to jail, by Natalie Clarke and Paul Bracchi 15th September 2006

"I thank all my true friends for never wavering in their belief" - Warren Blackwell

'Rape victim' rounds on peer who named her as liar, by Diane Taylor
October 21, 2006

Errol 'John' Heibner

Convicted of murder 30 years ago, Errol Heibner had his application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission rejected, but now the CCRC has received 'confidential information' that has caused it to reconsider its decision...

Read more in :
Thirty years on, murder conviction is re-examined

by Duncan Campbell, Friday August 11, 2006
Barri White and Keith Hyatt

Barri White was convicted of the murder of Rachel Manning in 2000, and his friend Keith Hyatt was convicted of perverting the course of justice. "We have nothing to hide," says Keith Hyatt. Barri had no motive to harm Rachel, and now forensic evidence shows that the two men were never at the place where the body was found. Read more at www.justice-for-barri-white-and-keith-hyatt.co.uk - web site now features complete BBC Rough Justice documentary "Murder Without Trace"Tears of joy as Rachel murder man hears his case is to go to appeal - Milton Keynes News, 16 August 2006

Rough Justice programme sparks forensic questions 25 March, 2005

Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC)
Dramatic rise in applications

The number of cases submitted to the SCCRC jumped 40% in 2005-6 to 165, from 118 the previous year.
The average review time has fallen from 11 months to 7 months.
"The SCCRC is far more effective than its counterpart south of the Border," said John McManus of MOJO Scotland.
Read more at 4 July 2006

Copies of the SCCRC's annual report are available free of charge. Email the SCCRC at info@sccrc.org.uk or phone 0141 270 7030.
Leon Forde
Innocent Leon Forde said spending 18 months in prison for a crime he did not commit had been 'hell' - Lincolnshire Echo 19 May 2005
Darryl Gee
Teacher cleared of rape too late by Graeme Paton, 21 April 2006
Times Educational Supplement
Luke passes lie detector test

Luke has become the first prisoner to post a video on YouTube showing him apparently passing a lie detector test to prove his innocence.
He was given permission by prison officials to release a 16-minute film, in which he denies killing his 14-year-old girlfriend Jodi Jones in 2003. The 24-year-old, who is serving a life sentence at Shotts Prison in Lanarkshire, Scotland, has consistently denied the murder.
Read more: Sanchez Manning, Indpendent, Sunday 13 January 2013
DNA doubts over Jodi Jones murder verdict - Guardian Justice on Trial feature by Haroon Siddique, 3 August 2008 Refusal to move Mitchell's murder trial 'was a miscarriage of justice': appeal refused 16 February 2008
Read more at and 16 May 2008

LUKE Mitchell, was sentenced to life in January 2005 for the frenzied knife attack on his 14-year-old girlfriend. Jodi's throat was slashed up to 20 times, her hands tied behind her back and her body mutilated on a secluded woodland path near their homes in Dalkeith, Midlothian, in June 2003. Mitchell was jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 20 years. Mitchell, now 17, was granted leave to appeal on 7 March 2006. 12 grounds of appeal lodged by Donald Finlay QC.

Read more at
Could Mitchell be innocent of Jodi murder? by Sandra Dick 26 March 2007

David Asbury and Shirley McKie (pictured right) - Lockerbie bombing link?

In both these cases, Scottish Criminal Records Office fingerprint experts presented flawed evidence, and appear to have conspired to cover up their mistakes in the McKie case. SCRO director Harry Bell was central to the Lockerbie investigation, and gave evidence at the trial of Al Megrahi, who was convicted. Exposure of criminal conspiracy amongst his staff could have damaged the Lockerbie prosecution ... US fingerprint experts were warned off giving evidence in support of McKie by the FBI... SCRO experts escape inquiry 22 February 2006

Full report on Lockerbie connection in by Eddie Barnes,19 February 2006

See also The Sunday Times - Scotland, 19 February 2006 report by Mark Macaskill
INNOCENT page on case of David Asbury
Read The Price of Innocence, by Shirley McKie, Iain McKie and Michael Russell

Shaun Booker

Quashed conviction remains secret

A man whose manslaughter conviction has been quashed cannot be told why he was the victim of "a serious miscarriage of justice", judges have ruled. Shaun Booker, 36, of Dryden Road, Sheffield, was jailed in 2002 over the death of 57-year-old Michael Marples. But new information meant the conviction could not stand, London's Criminal Appeal Court heard on Monday. However, the reason could not be given without causing "serious damage to the public interest", judges said.

Visit separate page on this case.

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Nick Rose

Nick Rose was convicted of the murder of 16 year old Charlotte Pinkney in Ilfracombe, North Devon, on purely circumstantial evidence.A massive police search failed to find her body. Charlotte was seen alive and well by numerous witnesses long after the time when Nick could have killed her.His appeal was dismissed on 23 June 2006. Nick and his family will continue fighting to clear his name. Please click here and read the article on Nick's case

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George McPhee

Man cleared after 18 years' jail, by Shirley English, 7 December 2005 18-year murder conviction quashed, 6 December 2005

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Gordon Park

In July 1976 Carol Ann Park went missing. In August 1997 her body was found by divers on the bed of Coniston Water in the Lake District and Gordon Park was arrested for her murder. The charges were dropped due to "insufficient evidence", but Gordon was arrested again in January 2004 on the same charge, and was brought to trial at Manchester Crown Court in November 2004. After a lengthy and complex trial he was convicted of her murder.

The family and friends of Gordon Park (many of whom were friends of Carol Park) believe he is innocent of this charge and believe he was not involved in any aspect of Carol Park's terrible fate. The evidence is so poor that it could match any number of people. There is no evidence linking Gordon Park to this crime. It seems he was convicted using guesswork.

Gordon Park found dead at HMP Garth
25 January 2010

Why I believe the Lady in the Lake killer was innocent and the real murderer is still at large, by Bob Woffinden
27th January 2010

Read more in the

Gordon's appeal was refused on 27 November 2008. His family and supporters remain determined to overturn his conviction.
See North West Evening Mail report Article in Private Eye 1177 2 February 2007 slates ITV 'Real Crime' programme on this case and shows just why the programme was wrong - and why Gordon is innocent. You will have to buy Private Eye if you want to read it. click on Suspect Evidence, by Bob Woffinden December 2006Visit freegordon.com, the web site which explains all about this case.
Petition launched 17 July 2006 - please sign !
Appeal for witnesses - did you see Carol Park in July 1976?

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John Roden and Mike Attwooll

Men lose appeal on taxi murders 23 April 2008

John Roden and Michael Attwooll were jailed for life in June 1995 for the killing of Mike Attwooll's business partner, Gerald Stevens and Steven's lover Christine Rees at the office of the taxi firm owned by Mike Attwooll and Gerald Stevens in Risca, South Wales in May of 1994. The corpses of Stevens and Rees were found with very severe cuts from a machete inflicted before bullets were put through their heads.The only evidence against John was that from a convicted drug addict with a history of mental illness, who it was claimed whispered to another prison inmate that 'he knew who did the killing' and then implicated John, despite no factual or DNA evidence...Read more on the MOJUK page

Family vigil over murder case
11 April 2004

Dawn Butler

We are very sorry to hear of the death of Dawn Butler, a Case Review Manager at the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Dawn was responsible for the referral of the cases of Susan May, John Brannan and Bernard Murphy to the appeal court. She was thorough, determined and imaginative in her investigation of cases, and responsive and helpful to supporters of the wrongly convicted - all that a CCRC caseworker ought to be. We send our sympathy to all who were close to her.

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4 March 2005 - inquest on death of Paul Day
9 June 2006 Home office inquiry announced

Paul Day was an informer who helped the police fit up innocent people. When he realised how he was being used, he decided to release information about the cases in which he was involved. Now he is dead. In June 2006 it was revealed that the inquest was not told about a visit to Paul by a solicitor, in which Paul said he wished to retract the false evidence which was used to convict a number of people.

26 January 2005 - Michael Brown: appeal for information

At present, Michael's web site is not available. If you wish to send a message to his family, email INNOCENT and we will pass the message on.

A supporter of Michael writes:
I am campaigning to help overturn the conviction of Michael Brown who is a miscarriage of justice victim.
We would be grateful if you could distribute the details of Michael's case on our behalf or if you're aware of any similar cases please contact us.
From the article you will see Michael got into debt and got involved with loan sharks, we know Michael is not the only victim of these people and we are very keen to trace anyone who has had dealings with these loan sharks or knows of a family member or friend who has. All information received will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We believe this particular group of loan sharks move from area to area so if you can assist us we would be very grateful.

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19 January 2005 - Michael Stone: appeal fails
Michael Stone, convicted of the murders of Lin and Megan Russell, has lost his appeal. Please refer to the separate page - Michael Stone
6 December 2004
The new London Against Injustice group met on Monday 6 December 2004 at 7.00 pm in the Paper Moon pub on Blackfriars Road, near Blackfriars Bridge. 
http://www.londonagainstinjustice.co.uk/index.htm
6 February 2004 - Anver Daud Sheikh: Court of appeal overturns abuse conviction
The court of appeal has overturned a former care worker's conviction after he had served two years of an eight-year sentence. Please refer to the separate page - Anver Daud Sheikh
26 January 2004 - Derek Christian: Case featured on 'Inside Out'
Derek Christian, who is supported by Innocent, was convicted of murder on the strength of fibre evidence presented by a prosecution 'expert' and has now been in prison for nearly 7 years. His case was recently featured on 'Inside Out', a BBC 1 production. Please refer to the separate pages - Derek Christian and Inside Out
23 January 2004 - Mark Dallagher: Justice after seven years
Convicted of murder on the basis of an earprint, Mark Dallagher has now seen all charges against him formally dropped. Please refer to the separate page - Mark Dallagher
15 December 2003 - Terry Pinfold / Harry Mackenney: Redemption at last!
Convicted of murder in 1980 on the strength of the testimony of a pathological liar and murderer, Terry Pinfold and Harry Mackenney have now had their convictions quashed. Please refer to the separate page - Terry Pinfold / Harry Mackenney
11 December 2003 - Angela Cannings: Convictions quashed
At long last the courts have recognised that the 'expert' evidence which sent Angela Cannings to jail for crimes that never happened was essentially flawed. Please refer to the separate page - Angela Cannings
28 November 2003 - John Cummiskey: Conviction quashed
The conviction of a man from who served 8 years of a 15-year sentence has now been quashed by the court of appeal following more evidence of wrongdoing by the disgraced West Midland Serious Crime Squad (Now there's a name that rings a bell or two! Ed.). Please refer to the separate page - John Cummiskey
23 November 2003 - Dai Morris: Fresh evidence suggests he is innocent
In June 2002 Dai Morris was sentenced to four terms of life imprisonment for the murder of three generations of a family. Now fresh forensic evidence suggests he could well be innocent. Please refer to the separate page - Dai Morris
22 October 2003 - Christopher Hagans / John Wilson
The court of appeal has quashed more convictions following evidence of wrongdoing by the disgraced West Midland Serious Crime Squad (Were they responsible for solving or committing serious crime? Ed.). Please refer to the separate page - Christopher Hagans / John Wilson
3 October 2003 - Lloyd Fraser: Conviction overturned
The conviction of a man sentenced to 7 years imprisonment has been overturned following a further case of skullduggery by  West Midland Serious Crime Squad. Please refer to the separate page - Lloyd Fraser
20 August 2003 - Kevin Callan: Obituary
Innocent regrets to announce the death of Kevin Callan. Please refer to the separate page - Kevin Callan
1 August 2003 - Men convicted of 1969 Luton PO killing finally have their names cleared
A long-running case that should have been resolved many years ago - when the man responsible for three innocent men spending years in prison was still alive. Please refer to the separate page - David Cooper / Michael McMahon
29 July 2003 - Michael Shirley: Murder conviction quashed
The emergence of new evidence has led to the quashing of  Michael Shirley's 1988 murder conviction. Please refer to the separate page - Michael Shirley
29 July 2003 - Hasham Shah: Conviction quashed
A man who served an 18-month for a gay attack at knifepoint has had his conviction quashed after the purported victim confessed he had fabricated the entire story. Please refer to the separate page - Hasham Shah
28 July 2003 - Kevin Lane: CCRC now reviewing murder conviction
The CCRC is now examining the case of Kevin Lane following the conviction of a corrupt police officer in charge of a case that certainly bears some of the classic hallmarks of a miscarriage of justice. (Why is this all so depressingly familar? Ed.) Please refer to the separate page - Kevin Lane
18 June 2003 - Gary Mills/Tony Poole: Convictions quashed
The convictions of Gary Mills and Tony Poole have been quashed by the court of appeal - 14 years too late. Please refer to the separate page - Gary Mills / Tony Poole
17 June 2003 - Trevor Wickens: Conviction overturned
Trevor Wickens has had his conviction for murder overturned after thirteen years in prison. Please refer to the separate page - Trevor Wickens
11 June 2003 - George Kelly: Pronounced innocent 53 years after he was hanged
George Kelly, who was hanged 53 years ago after being convicted of murder, has now been pronounced innocent. Please refer to the separate page - George Kelly
30 May 2003 - Erkin Guney: Conviction quashed
The Criminal Cases Review Commission has pushed through the quashing of a conviction in a case involving police corruption. Please refer to the separate page - Erkin Guney
15 March 2003 - Basil Rigby-Williams / Michael Lawson: Convictions for sexual abuse quashed
The court of appeal has quashed the convictions of two men who served three in years in prison after being found guilty of sexual abuse. They were given sentences of 12 and 7 years respectively. It is now accepted that the offences never happened. (Which rather disproves the old adage that you don't get owt for nowt, doesn't it? Ed.). Please refer to the separate page - Basil Rigby-Williams / Michael Lawson
28 February 2003 - Anthony Steele: appeal court quashes conviction after 24 years; Chief Constable apologises

Anthony Steele spent 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, the murder of Carole Wilkinson in Bradford in 1977. The only evidence was a 'confession' written by the police and signed by Mr Steele. Lord Justice Rix said: "We are allowing this appeal and quashing his conviction in the light of new evidence from both defence and Crown consultant psychologists, which we accept, indicating that Mr Steel is and was mentally handicapped and at the borderline of abnormal suggestibility and compliability; and, therefore, a significantly more vulnerable interviewee than could have been appreciated at the time of trial." From BBC Look North, 1 October 2003: Mr Steele returned to the estate where he grew up and distributed more than 500 copies of a letter to residents in Ravenscliffe, asking them to help police find the real killer. He said: "All I'd like to see is the actual person who has done it caught and put behind bars. That would give me some satisfaction, knowing that the police had actually got the right person." Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn said in the letter: "I offer you my personal apology on behalf of the force and welcome your offer to support us in any future inquiry into this matter."

See also Justice for Anthony Steel[e]

30 January 2003 - Sally Clark: Cleared by appeal court
Convicted on the basis of the - patently flawed - opinions of a so-called expert, Sally Clark has now had her convictions for murder overturned and her name cleared. Please refer to the separate page - Sally Clark
9 December 2002 - Compensation paid three years after 'near-miss' miscarriage of justice
Two days before Linda Watson was due to go on trial in 1998 for the murder of her husband, all the charges against her and her daughter were dropped; three years later Sussex police re-opened the case. Now she has been awarded compensation for the ordeal. Please refer to the separate page - Robert Watson murder case
5 December 2002 - Donna Tinker: Murder conviction quashed
Donna Pinker has had her murder conviction quashed and substituted with one of manslaughter. Please refer to the separate page - Donna Tinker
22 November 2002 - Alan McNamara: appeal refused: fresh evidence sought
Alan McNamara - convicted on the strength of a single, disputed thumbprint - has had his appeal against his conviction refused. He is seeking fresh evidence with which to overturn his conviction. Please refer to the separate page - Alan McNamara
November 2002 - Robert Brown: Conviction quashed - 25 years late
Having already spent 25 years in prison, Robert Brown has now had his convicton quashed and been released. Please refer to the separate page - Robert Brown
November 2002 - Josephine Smith: Conviction quashed
Josephine Smith has been released nine years into her sentence for murder after the court of appeal accepted that she had suffered years of "cumulative provocation" at her husband's hands. Please refer to the separate page - Josephine Smith
September 2002 - Nicholas Tucker: Appeal denied
Nicholas Tucker, jailed in 1997 for the murder of his wife, has been told by the CCRC that it will not be referring his case to the court of appeal. Please refer to the separate page - Nicholas Tucker
15 August 2002 - David Asbury: Conviction quashed
David Asbury, whose conviction for murder led to a major controversy over the fallibility of fingerprint identification, has had his conviction for murder quashed. Please refer to the separate page - David Asbury
17 July 2002 - Reg Dudley/Bob Maynard: Convictions quashed
25 years after being convicted of what were allegedly two gangland murders, Reg Dudley and Bob Maynard have had their names cleared by the court of appeal. Please refer to the separate page - Reg Dudley/Bob Maynard
10 July 2002 - Miles Evans: Appeal rejected
Despite evidence demonstrating that it was highly unlikely that Miles Evans could have murdered his step-daughter, his appeal against his conviction for murder has been rejected. Please refer to the separate page - Miles Evans
2 July 2002 - New book by Ludovic Kennedy
Ludovic Kennedy has published a new book, 'Thirty-Six Murders & Two Immoral Earnings', examining a number of miscarriages of justice. To mark the publication of the book, the Sunday Times also printed an article by Kennedy in which he calls for a radical reform of the criminal justice system. Please refer to the separate page - Thirty-Six Murders & Two Immoral Earnings
27 June 2001 - Frank Johnson: Conviction quashed
Frank Johnson's conviction for murder has been quashed by the court of appeal. Please refer to the separate page - Frank Johnson

25th June 2002 Mark Barnsley Released
15 June 2002 - Dudley Higgins: The wrong man - another case of police skulduggery
The alarming conviction of Dudley Higgins has been quashed. One would have to describe this case as 'amazing' but for past experience of the tricks to which some members of the police force will resort so as to secure a conviction. Please refer to the separate page - Dudley Higgins
15 June 2002 - Satpal Ram: Released on licence
The Home Office has confirmed that Satpal Ram is to be released on licence. Please refer to the separate page - Satpal Ram
9 June 2002 - Birmingham Six: Paddy Hill to receive compensation
Paddy Joe Hill, one of the Birmingham Six, is - at long last - to receive compensation of around one million pounds. (In my humble opinion, a pittance after what he and, above all, his family suffered as a consequence of an appalling miscarriage of justice. Ed.) Please refer to the separate page - Birmingham Six
Mid-May 2002 - James Hanratty: Appeal rejected
The court of appeal has rejected the appeal on behalf of James Hanratty. Please refer to the separate page - James Hanratty
April/May 2002 - Stephen Downing: Book published
Town Without Pity, Don Hale's account of his investigation into the conviction of Stephen Downing for the murder of Wendy Sewell has now been published. Please refer to the separate page - Stephen Downing
May 2002 - Christy Walsh: Northern Ireland appeal court dismisses appeal
In a judgement clearly at odds with a recent ruling by the House of Lords, the northern Ireland appeal court has dismissed Christy Walsh's appeal. Please refer to the separate page - Christy Walsh
February 2002 - Paul Cleeland: Appeal dismissed
The appeal by Paul Cleeland - who served 5 years longer than his recommended sentence of 20 years - has been dismissed by the court of appeal. Please refer to the separate page - Paul Cleeland
3 February 2002 - Luvaglio/Stafford: Convictions to be examined by CCRC
The infamous case of Michael Luvaglio and Dennis Stafford, convicted of the murder of Angus Sibbett, is to be examined by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). Please refer to the separate page - Michael Luvaglio / Dennis Stafford
26 January 2002 - Patrick Irvine: Conviction quashed
After serving 11 years of a 20-year sentence and spending the past 9 years at liberty but 'on licence' the appeal court quashed Patrick Irvine's conviction. Please refer to the separate page - Patrick Irvine
26 January 2002 - Thomas Green: Conviction quashed
After serving 13 years of a life sentence before being released under the terms of the Good Friday agreement, Thomas Green's conviction has been quashed by the appeal court in Northern Ireland. Please refer to the separate page - Thomas Green
25 January 2002 - John Brannan/Bernard Murphy: Convictions quashed
At last - and still too late. Ten years after their trial for murder the appeal court quashed their convictions. While Bernard Murphy can now savour the sweet taste of freedom, sadly John cannot. He committed suicide in 1998. Please refer to the separate page - John Brannan/Bernard Murphy
6 Jan 2002 - Brian Ely: Another victim of police 'trawling'
Writing in the Observer David Rose reports on the case of Brian Ely, who has been convicted of paedophile offences following a 'trawl' for victims by police. Please refer to the separate page for details - Brian Ely
15 Dec 2001 - Prisoner cleared after girl admits rape lie
A man has been freed three years into a nine-year sentence for rape after girl admits that she invented accusations. Please refer to the separate page for details - Roger Beardmore
14 Dec 2001 - Donald Pendleton: Law lords quash murder conviction
In what could be a ground-breaking decision, Donald Pendleton's conviction for murder has been quashed by the law lords. Please refer to the separate page for details - Donald Pendleton
2 November 2001 - Jawad Botmeh and Samar Alami: Appeal refused
The two young Palestinians convicted of the 1994 bomb attack on the Israeli Embassy in London have had their appeal refused. Please refer to the separate page for details of the case - Jawad Botmeh/Samar Alami
26 August 2001 - Leading police expert resigns (in disgust) over fingerprinting errors
Britain's leading fingerprint scientist has resigned from the Metropolitan Police in order to testify in court against what he believes is flimsy forensic evidence that has led to unsafe convictions. Please refer to the separate page - Errors put wrong men in jails
12 July 2001 - Alex Allan: Conviction overturned after student lawyers take up case
Alex Allan had had his conviction overturned after student lawyers took up his case. Please refer to the separate page - Alex Allan
10 June 2001 - Raymond Gilmour: Case referred to court of appeal by Scottish CCRC
The case of Raymond Gilmour, who has now spent 19 years in prison, has now been referred back to the court of appeal by the Scottish CCRC. Please refer to the separate page - Raymond Gilmour
29 May 2001 - John Straffen: Britain's longest-serving prisoner - the victim of a miscarriage of justice?
John Straffen will soon have spent 50 years in prison. Medical records now reveal he should never have stood trial. Please refer to the separate page - John Straffen
29 May 2001 - Timothy Evans: Family to claim for compensation
The family of Timothy Evans - hanged in 1952 and pardoned in 1966 - is to submit a claim for compensation following the recent award to the family of Mahmood Mattan. Please refer to the separate page - Timothy Evans
17 May 2001 - Richard Karling: Conviction quashed
Three appeal court judges have overturned the conviction of a man who had served five years of a life sentence, after it was revealed that a vital medical report had gone missing. Please refer to the separate page - Richard Karling
27 April 2001 - Scottish court quashes murder conviction
A man who has served six years for the murder of his girlfriend has his conviction quashed after the court criticises his defence team's conduct and preparation. Please refer to the separate page - John Hemphill
5 March 2001 - Peter Fell: Convictions quashed
As expected the court of appeal today quashed the convictions of Peter Fell - 17 years after he was found guilty of a double murder. Please refer to the separate page - Peter Fell
20 December 2000 - Verdict overturned in Iain Hay Gordon case
The court of appeal in Northern Ireland has overturned the verdict of murder in the case Iain Hay Gordon. Please refer to the separate page - Iain Hay Gordon
29 Sept 2000 - Stuart Gair released pending appeal hearing

Once again a man would seem to have been convicted - and unjustly spent a very long time in prison - because at some point someone somewhere in the Scottish police force decided that Stuart Gair was 'their man'. The story of how the police then secured a conviction is one which would beggar belief if things like this were not such a common phenomenon. Please refer to the separate page - Stuart Gair "Gay 'outing' threat by cops forced me to lie at murder trial" claim by witness at Gair appeal: Scottish Evening Times 12 May 2004 More information on MOJO Scotland website

Interim appeal judgment;
Scottish TV report 7 June 2005

18 July 2000 - M25 Three convictions quashed
Please refer to the separate page - M25 Three
13 July 2000 - It's not a(nother) fair cop ...
Five years into a ten-year sentence for armed robbery three young men - Kevin Martin, Michael Brown and Anthony Taylor - have been cleared by the Court of Appeal. The story is a familiar one: All three were convicted on the basis of vital evidence which had been planted by police officers. The plot for this miscarriage of justice does, however, have a surprising twist: The officers responsible have been convicted and now face long prison sentences themselves. Please refer to the separate page - Kevin Martin/Michael Brown/Anthony Taylor
8 June 2000 - Couple released after one and a half years in prison
Doubts about a Home Office pathologist's court evidence has led to the release of a couple who were jailed for killing a kebab shop owner and entombing him in a block of concrete. Please refer to the separate page - Serena Kayretli
13 May 2000 - Conviction quashed after police 'rewrote' confession
A Muslim accountant's conviction is quashed 13 years after his release from prison. Please refer to the separate page - Mohammed Yusef Patel
18 April 2000 - Last Tango 'rapist' cleared after 2 years' imprisonment
A drama student sentenced to five years has his conviction quashed after two-year ordeal in prison. Please refer to the separate page - James Reith
7 April 2000 - "Rape" conviction quashed after 15 years
Roy Burnett is freed 15 years after being convicted of a crime the appeal judges said "almost certainly never happened". Please refer to the separate page - Roy Burnett
30 March 2000 - It's not a fair cop ...
Police planted a gun on two known criminals, John Woodruff and William Hickson, who then served two years in prison before their convictions were quashed. Please refer to the separate page - John Woodruff and William Hickson
30 March 2000 - John Kamara freed after serving 20 years in prison
Please refer to the separate page - John Kamara
7 Feb 2000 - Eddie Browning awarded compensation for wrongful conviction
Please refer to the separate page - Eddie Browning
17 Dec 1999 - Cardiff Newsagent Three convictions quashed
Please refer to the separate page with extensive news reports - Cardiff Newsagent Three
11 Dec 1999 - Ashley King's appeal successful
Please refer to the separate page - Ashley King
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