Stockwell Six: Fourth member of group to appeal against conviction – BBC News

‘A fourth member of the so-called Stockwell Six, who were “fitted up” by a corrupt police officer, is mounting an appeal against his conviction.’

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BBC News, 26th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Wrongly convicted Post Office workers to get up to £100,000 interim payouts – The Guardian

‘Post Office workers who have had their convictions for theft, fraud and false accounting – the result of computing errors – quashed will each get an interim compensation payment of up to £100,000 the government has said.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Post Office Horizon scandal: More subpostmasters cleared – BBC News

‘The Court of Appeal has cleared 12 more former subpostmasters who were wrongly convicted of offences during the Post Office Horizon scandal.’

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BBC News, 19th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Murder cases reopened in wake of Sally Challen appeal – The Guardian

‘A number of murder cases are being re-examined to investigate possible unsafe convictions where coercive and controlling behaviour may not have been available as a defence, the Observer can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 10th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Three members of Stockwell Six cleared after nearly 50 years – The Guardian

‘Three innocent black men who were jailed nearly 50 years ago over a corrupt police officer’s claims they tried to rob him have had their convictions overturned by the court of appeal.’

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The Guardian, 6th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Undercover Policing Inquiry refers first suspected miscarriages of justice – Garden Court Chambers

Posted June 24th, 2021 in chambers articles, inquiries, miscarriage of justice, news, police by sally

‘This week, the Undercover Policing Inquiry referred the first suspected miscarriages of justice, identified through its investigations, to a dedicated panel set up by the Home Office.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 23rd June 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

CA slates barristers whose failures led it to wrongly quash conviction – Legal Futures

‘The Court of Appeal has strongly criticised barristers for not realising that the transcript of a trial was incorrect because they had not paid attention to the judge’s summing-up at the time.’

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Legal Futures, 24th March 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Shrewsbury 24: how industrial action led to 47-year fight for justice – The Guardian

‘The industrial action that led to the convictions of union activists and a 47-year campaign to clear their names took place as Edward Heath’s Conservative government sought to weaken the economic power of trade unions.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Shrewsbury 24: court of appeal overturns 1970s picketing convictions – The Guardian

‘Court of appeal judges have overturned the criminal convictions of a group of trade unionists, including the actor Ricky Tomlinson, after a campaign lasting more than four decades.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Miscarriage of justice body’s workload doubled despite severe cuts – report – The Guardian

‘The miscarriage of justice watchdog has suffered the “biggest cut” of any part of the criminal justice system since 2010 and its caseload has more than doubled over the same period, according to a parliamentary investigation.’

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The Guardian, 5th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judges reject Lockerbie bomber’s appeal against conviction – BBC News

‘Scottish judges have rejected a third appeal on behalf of the Libyan man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing.’

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BBC News, 16th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Paul Cleeland case: Government reviews files on 1972 murder – BBC News

‘The Home Office is reviewing its archives to see if any files exist on Paul Cleeland, who has been fighting to clear his name of murder for 47 years.’

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BBC News, 20th November 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Appealing convictions and sentences after the Court of Appeal – KCH Garden Sq

‘A defendant’s right to appeal following a magistrates or crown court conviction is widely recognised across the entire criminal justice system. What is much less well-known is what options are available should a defendant’s appeal be unsuccessful. There will always be cases where a defendant or counsel are sincerely of the view that there has been a miscarriage of justice in a particular matter, whether it be the conviction itself is unsafe, or the sentence passed is manifestly excessive. This view may be taken immediately after a failed appeal, or years down the line where new evidence has come to light, shining a different perspective over the case as a whole. But what can they do about it? The jury returned their verdict, the single judge and full Court of Appeal turned them down, what route do they have to have their case looked at again?’

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KCH Garden Sq, November 2020

Source: kchgardensquare.co.uk

Protesters spied on by undercover officers call for ‘end to political policing’ as inquiry begins – The Independent

‘Undercover Policing Inquiry to begin more than five years after being announced by Theresa May.’

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The Independent, 1st November 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal aid services are on brink of collapse, lawyers tell MPs – The Guardian

‘Legal aid services are on the brink of collapse due to successive cuts and the disruption wreaked by Covid-19, say lawyers.’

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The Guardian, 29th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Report raises alarm over police detention of vulnerable suspects in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Police officers detained and interviewed hundreds of thousands of vulnerable suspects last year in England and Wales in breach of mandatory safeguards, according to the body that sets standards for those who support vulnerable adults in police custody.’

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The Guardian, 28th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Unrealistic’ appeals system fails prisoners who have been victims of abuse – report – The Guardian

‘One month window to challenge convictions in England and Wales means women who have experienced trauma are unfairly criminalised, campaigners say.’

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The Guardian, 17th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Postmasters were prosecuted using unreliable evidence – BBC News

‘The Post Office prosecuted postmasters over missing money despite having evidence its own computer system could be to blame.’

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BBC News, 8th June 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coercive Control and the consequences of forfeiture – Challen v Challen [2020] EWHC 1330 – St John’s Chambers

‘Sally Challen’s case has become well known in recent years, as a miscarriage of justice that resulted in a woman spending years behind bars for an offence she did not commit. The facts were not in dispute. In August 2010 she had reconciled with Richard, her partner and husband of forty years, after previously leaving the matrimonial home and starting divorce proceedings. Over lunch, she beat him to death with a hammer. Subsequently dissuaded from committing suicide, she was convicted of his murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, with the prosecution describing her as jealous and possessive, and the jury rejecting her defence of diminished responsibility. In 2019 the Court of Appeal allowed her appeal, quashed her conviction, and directed a re-trial to reconsider the defences of diminished responsibility and provocation, in the light of new expert evidence about the effect of coercive control in a relationship. Richard had behaved appallingly towards Slly during their relationship. Finally in September 2019 the Crown accepted the plea that Sally Challen had offered throughout, that of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Edis J sentenced her to 9 years and 4 months imprisonment, with the effect that she was immediately released.’

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St John's Chambers, 28th May 2020

Source: www.stjohnschambers.co.uk

Gerry Adams wins appeal against Maze Prison escape convictions – BBC News

‘Gerry Adams has won his appeal to have two convictions for attempting to escape from prison in the 1970s overturned.’

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BBC News, 13th May 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk