Trawl for unsafe criminal convictions in UK being done by interns – The Guardian

‘Interns have been given the job of weeding out potential wrongful convictions for rape and murder in a major case review prompted by Andrew Malkinson’s exoneration, the Guardian can reveal.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Martin Myers tried and failed to steal a cigarette. Why has he spent 18 years in prison for it? – The Guardian

‘A devoted father with a zest for life, he was given an indeterminate sentence in 2006. He is still locked up – and losing hope that he will ever be released.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Edith Thompson: CCRC told to revisit hanged woman’s pardon case – BBC News

‘A panel has been told to re-examine the case of a woman hanged for the murder of her husband, two months after it rejected a bid for her to be pardoned.’

Full Story

BBC News, 27th April 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Post Office: Disclosure Lessons from a National Scandal – Guildhall Chambers

‘An estimated 736 people were prosecuted by the Post Office between 2000 and 2014, Horizon software having been first introduced in 1999, and responsibility for prosecutions, in all but exceptional cases, being handed over to the Crown Prosecution Service in 2014. Many of those prosecuted were imprisoned, 4 committed suicide and all faced the stigma and stress of criminal prosecution. The Court of Appeal in Hamilton v Post Office Limited [2021] EWCA Crim 577 quashed 39 convictions (of the 42 appellants) on the basis that there had been an abuse of process on two grounds: that a fair trial was impossible and that it was an affront to public conscience for the appellants to have faced prosecution. This judgment followed the Post Office Group Litigation in the High Court before Fraser J known as Bates and Others v The Post Office Limited [2019] EWHC 3408.’

Full Story

Guildhall Chambers, 11th March 2024

Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk

Armagh: Man’s convictions for murder of soldiers quashed – BBC News

Posted April 23rd, 2024 in appeals, armed forces, miscarriage of justice, murder, news, Northern Ireland by sally

‘A man jailed for life for the murder of four British soldiers nearly 50 years ago has had his convictions quashed by Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal.’

Full Story

BBC News, 22nd April 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Failure to address ‘ludicrous’ injustice of indefinite jail terms is ‘political cowardice’, peer warns – The Independent

‘MPs have been accused of “political cowardice” for failing to back the resentencing of thousands of prisoners trapped under abolished indefinite jail terms.’

Full Story

The Independent, 20th April 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Criminal Cases Review Commission apologises to Andrew Malkinson for handling of case – The Guardian

‘The chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission has offered an “unreserved apology” to Andrew Malkinson for its handling of his case after he spent 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 18th April 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Brighton: Police apology over 1986 schoolgirls murder case – BBC News

‘The families of two schoolgirls murdered in 1986 have received an apology from Sussex Police over mistakes in its investigations.’

Full Story

BBC News, 18th April 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Post office operator wrongly jailed while pregnant rejects executive’s apology – The Guardian

‘A post office operator who was wrongly prosecuted while pregnant has rejected a Post Office executive’s apology for having sent an email celebrating her conviction as “brilliant news”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th April 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Carers scandal: why are so many being prosecuted by the UK government? – The Guardian

‘George Henderson was convicted of fraud and had to repay £19,500 in carer’s allowance years after ticking the wrong box on the form. He is not alone. The Guardian society editor, Patrick Butler, looks at why thousands are facing prosecution over innocent mistakes.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th April 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Carer convicted over benefit error worth 30p a week fights to clear his name – The Guardian

‘A carer who says he was “dragged through the courts” and had to sell his home to pay back almost £20,000 in benefit overpayments is fighting to clear his name after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) acknowledged he made an innocent mistake.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th April 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Victims given greater access to justice through legal aid reform – Ministry of Justice

‘Innocent people who have suffered miscarriages of justice, personal harm or injury are among those who will benefit from upcoming changes to legal aid means testing coming into effect this year.’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 14th March 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Jailed bankers appeal against interest rate ‘rigging’ convictions – BBC News

‘Two former bankers jailed for rigging interest rates are appealing against their convictions after an eight-year battle to clear their names.’

Full Story

BBC News, 14th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

What is the Post Office Horizon bill and why is it controversial? – The Guardian

‘The Post Office (Horizon system) offences bill, published on Wednesday, will quash the convictions of people resulting from the scandal, which involved hundreds being wrongly prosecuted on the basis of a faulty IT system. Here the Guardian explains the thinking behind the bill and why it is controversial.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 13th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Post Office scandal victims convictions to be quashed – BBC News

‘A new law will be introduced on Wednesday to clear the names of the hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly convicted in the Post Office scandal.’

Full Story

BBC News, 13th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Post Office scandal victim feels ‘survivor’s guilt’ after compensation – BBC News

‘Former sub-postmaster Jo Hamilton says she feels “survivor’s guilt” after settling with the Post Office over the Horizon IT scandal for an undisclosed sum.’

Full Story

BBC News, 5th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Edith Thompson: Hanged woman’s case denied pardon bid – BBC News

‘The case of a woman hanged over 100 years ago for the murder of her husband does not meet the requirements for a royal pardon, a commission has ruled.’

Full Story

BBC News, 28th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ministers to press ahead with legislation to exonerate Post Office Horizon victims – The Guardian

‘Ministers have vowed to press ahead with legislation to automatically overturn convictions related to the Post Office Horizon scandal by the end of July.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Horizon scandal: Five short-changed postmasters to get full compensation – BBC News

‘A small group of former sub-postmasters whose convictions were overturned have finally been told they will receive full compensation.’

Full Story

BBC News, 12th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Horizon scandal: post office operator cleared after years of suffering in silence – The Guardian

Posted January 26th, 2024 in appeals, computer programs, fraud, miscarriage of justice, news, postal service, theft by sally

‘A former post office branch operator who suffered in silence and endured humiliation after being convicted of fraud based on evidence from the faulty Horizon IT system has had her conviction quashed by the court of appeal.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com