tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225652582024-03-08T08:10:57.763+00:00Susan May - InnocentSusanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-6249575321425436362013-07-17T15:30:00.001+00:002013-07-17T15:30:14.710+00:00Barry George<div dir="ltr"><div><span class=""><br></span></div><span class="">It is truly disgusting that Barry has been denied compensation. The excuse given...'not innocent enough', is appalling. When you have been wrongly convicted no amount of money would ever take away the pain and damage done, but he was cleared and that has to be accepted. It is yet another travesty being served on him by those who put him away for years - he deserves to be compensated for his suffering. <br> </span><div><span class=""><br><br><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDQQqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuknews%2Flaw-and-order%2F10184591%2FI-want-justice-for-Jill-Dandos-family-says-Barry-George.html&ei=mrbmUb2rEI6ZhQf8goDYCw&usg=AFQjCNEI7PdsGXw1NbJeBvEJgYZCRl-h4Q&sig2=gM3cQG05YB_ToVAUoy0WpQ&bvm=bv.49405654,d.ZG4" class="">I want justice for Jill Dando's family, says <em>Barry George</em></a></span><br> <cite><a href="http://Telegraph.co.uk">Telegraph.co.uk</a></cite><span class=""> - </span></div></div> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-55729432784686239872013-07-17T15:20:00.001+00:002013-07-17T15:20:44.077+00:00WHO CAN WE TRUST?? (An article from MOJUK)<div dir="ltr"><div><b>Another Fine White Wash By the IPCC</b></div> <div><br></div> <div>IPCC publishes report of its Lynette White 'missing' documents investigation</div> <div><br></div> <blockquote> <blockquote><font color="#000000">[The trial of eight police officers involved in the original investigation into the murder of Lynette White in 1988 ended on 1 December 2011 when prosecuting counsel told the court that four files of documents had been shredded on the orders of South Wales Police senior investigating officer Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Coutts. South Wales Police immediately referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and an independent investigation started on 2 December 2011.</font>]</blockquote> </blockquote> <div><br></div> <a href="http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/Pages/pr_160413_LynetteWhite.aspx" target="_blank">IPCC 16 July 2013</a></div> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-49646566931939938112013-07-06T17:38:00.001+00:002013-07-06T17:38:36.084+00:00Excellent article from The Justice Gap - certainly worth reading<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://thejusticegap.com/News/no-defence-it-should-haunt-us/" target="_blank">http://thejusticegap.com/News/no-defence-it-should-haunt-us/</a></div> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-10729912986491829902012-12-24T18:22:00.001+00:002012-12-24T18:22:48.532+00:00CASE OF UDAY JOSHI<h1>Because of recent 'historical abuse' cases this one shows not all are guilty and we need to treat each case on an individual basis. <br> </h1><h1> A Fight for Justice - Uday Joshi's Case</h1> <font style="font-size:12px"> </font><div class="sf_content"><div style="display:block;zoom:1"><div id="content1"><div style="display:block"><div style="display:block"><p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"> <font style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">LONDON Against Injustice, an organization that supports victims of a miscarriage of justice, has thrown</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">its weight behind the case of the former Indian cricketer Uday Joshi who is serving a six year prison</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">sentence for molesting a 13-year old boy in Belfast in 1979.</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">After hearing the facts of Joshi's case at this month's monthly meeting London Against Injustice's</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">secretary said:</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">"Uday Joshi's case contains number of unanswered questions and anomalies. This suggests that Uday is</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">the victim of a very serious miscarriage of justice which is why we are giving him our wholehearted</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">support."</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">The backing of London Against Injustice endorses the comments of the Professional Cricketers'</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">Association's legal director Ian Smith who concedes that it is common for juries to convict in this type of</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">case on the thinnest of evidence.</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">"This is a serious problem within the criminal justice system and not just in Northern Ireland," Mr Smith</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">commented.</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">The Professional Cricketers' Association announced their backing of Joshi's case last week and Joshi also</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">has the support of many of his former Sussex team mates including former England Test cricketers Tony</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">Greig, John Snow and Jim Parks who have all expressed concern about Joshi's conviction and sentence.</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">Joshi's son, Aakash, who is co-ordinating the campaign is delighted with the growing support.</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">"The speed at which support for my father's case is growing indicates the great concern that people have</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> <span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">about his case. It also shows how seriously people are taking our campaign which will continue to fight</span> </font></p> <font style="font-size:18px"> </font> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font style="font-size:18px"> </font><span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif"><font style="font-size:18px">for my father's conviction to be quashed."<br> </font> <br> </span> </p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"> <b><span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">For further information please contact David Bennett 07890071934.</span></b><br> <br> <b><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:'times new roman',serif;font-size:12pt">Supporters include: Tony Greig (Former England and Sussex CCC captain), John Snow and Jim Parks (England and Sussex CCC), John Barclay (Deputy Lieutenant West Sussex, Past president MCC and former Sussex CCC captain), John Spencer (former deputy headmaster Brighton College and Sussex CCC), Les Lenham (A former National Cricket Coach and Sussex CCC).<br> <br> <br></span></b></p></div></div></div></div></div> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-85593124346971533942012-10-28T09:11:00.001+00:002012-10-28T09:11:32.619+00:00Death of Sean HodgsonYet another example of the damage a wrongful conviction has on the individual. I have said this before but it is a fact that the years in jail and the struggle to prove ones innocence does take its' toll and for Sean, his time of freedom has been far too short.<br> <br>** Miscarriage of justice man dies **<br> A man wrongfully jailed for 27 years for a murder he did not commit dies three years after being released from prison.<br> < <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/uk-england-20109311" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/uk-england-20109311</a> ><br> <br> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-73972320534482216352012-10-20T12:07:00.001+00:002012-10-20T12:07:31.622+00:00Jeremy Bamber's challenge to CCRC decision<b><i><span style="font-size:10pt">Jeremy Bamber's case is well known<br>Some are certain he is guilty.....only Jeremy knows, BUT I truly believe there are too many inconsistencies and unanswered questions to leave this alone. He deserves another chance to have ALL the evidence that has come to light heard again. Below is Jeremy's response to the latest set back of which he hash had many. However he always comes back fighting. I think his 2nd article written by him is particularly poignant and thought it worth sharing. The links within his statement are worth looking at.<br> </span></i><br>These are Jeremy's views on yesterday's ruling. </b> <p>"Yesterday saw the High Court reject my application to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-20002566" target="_blank">Judicially Review</a> the decision from the CCRC not to send my case back to the appeal court based on <a href="http://www.jeremy-bamber.co.uk/forensic-evidence" target="_blank">the new evidence</a>. It is our intention to apply for an oral hearing and I have every confidence in my legal team to submit the case and win. I suspect that the decision made today has political implications, particularly in light of so many recent events where police corruption and general misconduct in public office is virulent, this is especially so where high <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-19964118" target="_blank">profile cases</a> are concerned. Should I win my case at Judicial Review, the conduct, competency and integrity of the CCRC will be brought into question. The impact of this will be very serious as the handling of all of the cases rejected <a href="http://www.davidjessel.co.uk/index.php?/JusticeIssues/article/campaigners_and_the_commission/" target="_blank">(currently at 96%) </a> by the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/mar/27/criminal-cases-review-commission-reform-campaign" target="_blank">underfunded</a> and so called 'independent' government operated department will have to be reviewed. The CCRC would no longer be a political patsy able to ignore police corruption and keep it under wraps at the cost of the tax payer and the innocent victims of injustice." </p><p>Jeremy</p> <p><b>This is the second article in a series of four, <u>Jeremy Bamber: A Life of Less Liberty</u>, which marks 26 years wrongly convicted and 27 years of imprisonment. </b></p> <p>"I wanted to share some reflections on what I might have done with my life career wise had I not come to prison. My earliest memory about what my future career would be is that I wanted to be an astronaut, it seems a bit stupid saying that now, except that I had grown up with the Apollo space launches and I had watched the first moon landing live on T.V and heard those memorable words from the late Neil Armstrong, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." I think I was 8 or 9 years old when I heard those words and it seemed to me that exploring space was the obvious thing to want to do.</p> <p> There were no street lights around where we lived, so the dark nights meant we could see a million stars in the sky. Dad had learnt to navigate his aircraft using the stars and he would teach me different constellations and the names of particular stars if we were out on a clear night. Dad told me the night sky was important for many reasons, and he always had exciting stories to tell about the moon. I believed the Clangers lived on the moon along with the Soup Dragon and he would make stuff up to make the night sky even more magical. So when I'm peering out between the bars on my window at the night sky I'm hoping to glimpse a star I can recognize, but the prison lights are always blazing, so I'm lucky if I can see one or two stars in the tiny section of sky available to me. </p> <p> Star gazing would have become a great hobby as I knew from a young age that I'd be a farmer. Dad inspired me with the wonder of growing the things that made our living and he understood that to engage my interest it had to be on an intellectual basis as well as practical and that's why I enjoy my time in the Braille workshop. Braille can be tricky to learn how to read and write and there is nothing else like it. So there are no skills you have already that allow you to read a single letter – what you look at are effectively a series of tactile dots, as each character is created from 6 dots. </p> <p> Had I not come to jail I would never have become a skilled Braillist, and I enjoy every moment I am doing it because I know that this will set minds free from the darkness of blindness. It gives my life a value too so that the injustice I'm suffering seems bearable and in many ways my 'career' has been the lifetimes work I have spent searching for evidence to prove my innocence among the case documents. Finding the truth and working towards freedom helps me to focus on the future in a way that nothing else does. </p> <p> You never know what is around the corner, but whatever life deals for you it's important to make as much as possible from each moment. Jail has made my horizons small compared with the dreams I had as a boy and the freedoms I had on the farm.</p> <p> A quote from Richard Lovelace (1618-1658) inspired me to write:</p> <p> "Stone walls do not a prison make,</p> <p>Nor iron bars a cage,</p> <p>Life innocent and youthful take,</p> <p>That freedom's won't assuage."</p> <p> It's about never getting the time back, but it's no excuse to blame circumstance for wasting the time we have. I miss everything from my life before jail, and will enjoy those things that freedom brings but I also hope that I can look back and miss much from jail with few regrets but only time will tell." </p> <p> Jeremy</p> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-69772171782857302392012-09-13T12:37:00.001+00:002012-09-13T12:37:26.579+00:00Wullie Beck<div><i><b>Great news for Wullie, I am thrilled for him and maybe we can say hope for us all after his battle for 30 years!</b></i><br></div> <div><b><br>William 'Wullie' Beck to Scottish CCRC After Thirty-Year Fight</b></div> <div><br></div> <div>William 'Wullie' Beck's thirty-year fight to clear his name for a conviction he served six years of imprisonment for has culminated in an appeal thanks to work by the University of Bristol Innocence Project (UoBIP). The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission announced this week they have referred Mr Beck's case back to the High Court of Justiciary after agreeing his conviction may be unsafe.<br> <br> William Beck was 20 when he was arrested for an armed robbery of a post van in Livingston, Scotland on 16 December 1981. He served six years of imprisonment for his conviction, which was based exclusively on eyewitness identification.<br> <br> 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 positive identification of two eyewitnesses despite other witnesses not identifying Mr Beck in an identity parade.<br> <br> For more than three decades, Mr Beck has steadfastly protested his innocence, claiming that he is a victim of eyewitness misidentification. By the time he sought the assistance of the UoBIP, Mr Beck has made two previous unsuccessful applications to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission and numerous complaints about how the police conducted the identification parade and the conduct of his legal representatives at trial.<br> <br> The UoBIP took on Mr Beck's case in 2011 following the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission's provisional Statement of Reasons stating that it was not minded to refer his conviction to the High Court of Justiciary.<br> <br> Under the guidance of Dr Michael Naughton, postgraduate law students Mark Allum and Ryan Jendoubi at the University of Bristol Law School undertook detailed research into Mr Beck's case and made two submissions to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission. They contended that a combination of factors rendered a real likelihood of a miscarriage of justice in Mr Beck's case. In addition to the 'flimsy nature' of the eyewitness identification evidence that underpinned his conviction, they argued that the judge had made several serious errors in the way in which he had directed the jury.<br> <br> In an interview with Good Morning Scotland, Dr Naughton said: "This is a significant moment for Mr Beck. There has been 1,500 cases applied to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission and only about 100 cases have ever been referred. They have agreed with us that a miscarriage of justice may have occurred in Mr Beck's case and we are delighted that they have referred his case."<br> <br> In a public statement posted on a justice forum website, Mr Beck expressed his gratitude to both the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission and the UoBIP, stating that "he had 'no doubt whatsoever' that it was the UoBIP that convinced the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission to refer his case".</div> <div><br></div> <div>University of Bristol Innocence Project</div> <div><a href="http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2012/8772.html" target="_blank">http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2012/8772.html</a></div> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-84419547190509533332012-08-14T14:24:00.001+00:002012-08-14T14:24:45.995+00:00Panorama<h3 class="r">Here is a link to the programme on the Cardiff Three<br></h3><h3 class="r"><br></h3><h3 class="r"><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CFAQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fiplayer%2Fepisode%2Fb01m28pt%2FPanorama_Justice_Denied_The_Greatest_Scandal%2F&ei=m14qUPn5FsGo0AWH7YGIDA&usg=AFQjCNH5dtdBZBJ6OXvxjLGQVSvdHa7G4w" class="l">BBC iPlayer - <em>Panorama</em>: Justice Denied: The Greatest Scandal?</a></h3> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-22727543475336124212012-08-14T14:17:00.001+00:002012-08-14T14:17:03.977+00:00The Cardiff Three case<div><br></div> <div> ['Justice Denied: The Greatest Scandal?' produced and directed by Toby Sculthorp was shown on Panorama on BBC1 at 8.30pm last night<b> if it is on IPlayer it is well worth watching.</b><br></div> <div><br> A 1988 murder led to the conviction of three innocent men. Now 'Panorama' looks again at the role of the police<br> </div> <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/an-injustice-that-wont-go-away-8034860.html" target="_blank"><span></span>Tom Mangold, Independent, Sunday 12 August 2012</a><br><br><font><i><b>An excellent programme which highlighted again how we need good investigative journalists to uncover the truth. It would be amazing if the CCRC did this type of investigating....knocking on doors, speaking to witnesses and those involved from the original enquiry - despite the passage of time. So many similarities to my case and I would presume to other injustices too? Watch this space because I hope more will follow on the Cardiff Three case and rightly so. It is only when those involved in corruption - sending innocent people to jail - are brought to account that maybe we can stem the flow of wrongful convictions!</b></i></font><br> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-36482255410852157392012-07-28T08:36:00.000+00:002012-07-28T22:05:44.338+00:00INNOCENT NETWORK U.K VIDEOS AND PODCASTSINUK now has a YouTube site for its' videos and podcasts.<br> <br> The URL is:<br> <br> <<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/InnocenceNetUK?feature=watch" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/user/InnocenceNetUK?feature=watch</a>><br> <br> There is also an added link to the homepage of the INUK website:<br> <br> <<a href="http://www.innocencenetwork.org.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.innocencenetwork.org.uk/</a>> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-28013888688815279472012-07-13T13:07:00.001+00:002012-07-13T13:07:10.756+00:00Recent debate at Manchester's BPP Law School. <div> <div> <div><div style="text-align:center"> <font size="4"><b><u>This is taken from 'THE JUSTICE GAP' - KNOW YOUR RIGHTS<br></u></b></font></div> <div> <br> <div> <div> <div> <form method="get" action="http://thejusticegap.com/" target="_blank" onsubmit="return window.confirm("You are submitting information to an external page.\nAre you sure?");"> <div>Fri 13th Jul 2012 | 12:52 </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div> <div> <h1> Written by: <a href="http://thejusticegap.com/author/mischa-wilmers/" title="Posts by Mischa Wilmers" rel="author" target="_blank">Mischa Wilmers</a> </h1> </div> <img src="http://thejusticegap.com/wp-content/uploads/userphoto/84.jpg" alt="Mischa Wilmers" height="146" width="150"> </div> <div> <div> <h1>Miscarriages of justice: 'a bit 1980s?'</h1> </div> <div> <div> <p>When the investigative journalist David Jessel heard in 1999 that Channel 4's <i>Trial and Error </i>would be axed on the grounds that miscarriages of justice 'are a bit 80s', he wasn't the only one to feel dismayed. The programme's demise, along with that of <i>Rough Justice</i>, left a huge gap in the investigation and coverage of potentially wrongful convictions which arguably has never been filled.</p> <p>Last week David Jessel joined an impressive panel of experts, lawyers and journalists at Manchester's BPP law school, to take part in a public debate aimed at reigniting an interest in the failings of our criminal justice system.</p> <ul><li>Hosted by <a href="http://www.thejusticegap.com" target="_blank">www.thejusticegap.com</a>, the debate was prompted by the collection of essays – <i>Wrongly Accused: who is responsible for miscarriages of justice?</i> – you can download that collection <a href="http://thejusticegap.com/justicegapseries/wrongly-accused/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</li> <li>You can read Jon Robins' account <a href="http://thejusticegap.com/News/wrongly-accused-the-need-for-imagination-and-outrage/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</li></ul> <p><a href="http://thejusticegap.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/wrongly-accused-border-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="wrongly accused - border 2" src="http://thejusticegap.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/wrongly-accused-border-2-218x300.jpg" alt="" height="193" width="140"></a></p> <p>One of the main focuses of the night was to discuss whether the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the independent body set up in 1997 to refer potential miscarriages of justice to the Court of Appeal, is fit for purpose.</p> <p> </p> <p>At the centre of the panel sat the current chair of the CCRC, Richard Foster, surrounded by seven speakers whose criticisms of his organisation ranged from moderate to vehement. First to speak was the <i>Guardian's</i> prison correspondent Eric Allison who set the tone for the evening by expressing his concerns that miscarriages of justice are on the rise, citing cuts in legal aid and prejudicial pre-trial publicity as crucial factors.</p> <p> </p> <blockquote><p><i>'I'm convinced there's been a massive increase in the number of miscarriages of justice. I'm currently researching five cases as I've got no time to do anything else, but there are 100 more I could pick up tomorrow that need examination.' </i>Eric Allison</p></blockquote> <p>David Jessel, who has worked as a commissioner for the CCRC, reiterated Allison's concerns and spoke of a need to get miscarriages of justice back on the public radar.</p> <blockquote><p><i>'What is essential is to revive that sense of outrage and imagination that we had in the past, to have the imagination to think what it must be like to suffer a miscarriage of justice. It's that concern that guarantees the integrity of the system.'</i><br> David Jessel</p></blockquote> <p>However, others, including Manchester University lecturer and former CCRC commissioner Dr Hannah Quirk, appeared to be more optimistic about the state of the criminal justice system. Dr Quirk said: 'It's important to keep a perspective on this. Cases are being referred to the court of appeal, they are being investigated and far more people are having their convictions quashed than ever could have been in the 1980s.'</p> <p><i>Second guessing</i><br> One of the highlights of the event came when Susan May, a woman convicted of murdering her elderly aunt 20 years ago, was invited to address the panel. Considered by many to be a miscarriage of justice victim, May has substantial experience in dealing with the CCRC which has referred her case to the court of appeal twice and is currently considering fresh evidence that could result in a rare third appeal.</p> <p>May said: 'I do believe the CCRC has changed the way it operates. When I first dealt with the CCRC in 1997, my caseworker came to see me in prison quite a few times and I think I'm right in saying that doesn't happen now…After 15 years I really think we need a review of the CCRC.' She further criticised the Commission for 'second guessing' the Court of Appeal by only referring cases deemed to have a 'real possibility' of resulting in a quashed conviction.</p> <p>Responding to May's assessment, CCRC Chair Richard Foster cited cuts in funding as the primary reason for having less face to face sessions with applicants: 'Our budget has been frozen for the last six years so in real terms we have 33% less money than we did six years ago…and that's why we can't do as much face to face as we'd like to do.'</p> <p>When asked to explain the Commission's low rates of referral Foster told the audience that around half of the applications they received were inappropriate for consideration, citing civil cases as an example. With this taken into account the actual percentage of applications referred was closer to 7% than the often quoted 2%, he argued.</p> <p>But defence lawyer Campbell Malone disagreed, insisting that the CCRC does not refer enough cases and cannot be held to account: 'The CCRC have never been bold enough… the truth of the matter is most people will accept that they are too cautious. The problem is there isn't any real way that I'm aware of that those cases where they [the CCRC] have got it wrong can be audited and checked.'</p> <p>Where the speakers reached a consensus was in agreeing that the CCRC should be reformed rather than abolished, a point which Dr Quirk summed up well: 'It's important to acknowledge there are problems with the system, to try and improve it. Let's make it better but let's not become completely despairing about it.'</p> </div><div style="padding:0px"> <div> <br> </div></div><br></div></div><div style="width:600px"><div></div></div></div></div> </div> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-50708078794622546552012-07-03T10:24:00.001+00:002012-07-03T10:24:55.918+00:00INQUIRY NEWSLETTER <h2 style="font-weight:normal"><i><span>INQUIRY: The Quarterly Newsletter of the Innocence Network UK</span></i></h2><h2 style="font-weight:normal"><i>The newsletter of the Innocence Network U.K and this edition covers selected papers given at the recent INUK Symposium on the reform of the CCRC. There are a number of very interesting views and opinions to be found in the link below.</i></h2> <p> <a title="INQUIRY Issue 5" href="http://www.innocencenetwork.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/INQUIRY-5-June-2012.pdf" target="_blank">INQUIRY Issue 5 (Summer 2012, Symposium Edition)</a> (NEW!) <br></p> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-39308108392098559042012-05-18T12:28:00.001+00:002012-05-18T12:28:17.908+00:00Sam HallamSo pleased for Sam and his family. Of course he should never have been convicted in the first place...but he will need help and support now because prison damages you. The scars will be with him for ever. He has suffered and so have his family, to a terrible degree. I wish him well and hope they can all find some peace.<br> <h3 class="t2"><a class="link-text" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/may/17/sam-hallam-murder-conviction-quashed?INTCMP=SRCH">Sam Hallam criticises Metropolitan police after murder conviction quashed</a></h3><br> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-59389572699458904292012-05-16T20:55:00.001+00:002012-05-16T20:55:16.614+00:00Article by Jon Robins<h3 class="t2"><a class="link-text" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/may/15/miscarriages-justice-susan-may?INTCMP=SRCH">Miscarriages of justice may be out of fashion, but they haven't gone away | Jon Robins</a></h3> <p class="publication"><a href="http://guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a>, 15 May 2012</p> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-80264025734582835692012-05-08T08:42:00.001+00:002012-05-08T08:42:27.748+00:00Guardian news<div>My thanks to Eric, Helen and the Guardian for their research into this and for the article in today's paper. I just hope it pricks the conscience of those who do know more about Aunty's murder and despite the length of time which has gone by, they see fit to come forward with any information which could help.<br> </div> <div><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/may/07/susan-may-murder-clues-hilda-marchbank" target="_blank"><span></span>Eric Allison and Helen Pidd, guardian.co.uk, Monday 7 May 2012</a></div> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-25564157362697991332012-03-28T15:58:00.001+00:002012-03-28T15:58:46.071+00:00INUK's Symposium in London 30th March 2012<br> Below are some links relating to the <b>INUK Symposium, Helping the Innocent: Symposium on the Reform of the Criminal Cases Review Commission</b>, to be held on Friday in London. I have been asked to speak at the conference and feel very fortunate to be amongst many high profile and interesting people who will also address the meeting. <br> <br> As always I am grateful to Dr Michael Naughton, founder of INUK, for inviting me along to this symposium.<br> <br><<a href="http://www.innocencenetwork.org.uk/criminal-justice-system-still-failing-the-innocent" target="_blank">http://www.innocencenetwork.org.uk/criminal-justice-system-still-failing-the-innocent</a>><br> <br> <<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/mar/27/criminal-cases-review-commission-reform-campaign?CMP=twt_fd" target="_blank">http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/mar/27/criminal-cases-review-commission-reform-campaign?CMP=twt_fd</a>><br> <br><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/mar/27/criminal-cases-review-commission-case-studies" target="_blank">http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/mar/27/criminal-cases-review-commission-case-studies</a><br> <br> <br> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-57753362763235783412012-01-08T10:32:00.001+00:002012-01-08T10:32:56.297+00:00Article from Guardian on line<br><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/jan/06/criminal-justice-lawrence" target="_blank">Duncan Campbell and Eric Allison, guardian.co.uk, Friday 6 January 2012</a><br><br><br> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-43242734832245291462012-01-06T16:33:00.001+00:002012-01-06T16:33:39.342+00:00Innocent Eddie GilfoyleThe Times has long championed Eddie's case and the latest article in today's paper again exposes even more evidence which shows Eddie to be Innocent. I hope and pray that now the CCRC will not allow this to drag on any longer and refer Eddie's case back to the Court of Appeal speedily. <br> <ul><li><h4 class="f-subhead-a"><a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/leaders/article3278045.ece">Justice and Answers</a></h4> <p>Paula Gilfoyle's locked box contains vital evidence against her husband. Where has it been all these years?</p> </li></ul> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-41164127148838372622011-12-29T09:47:00.001+00:002011-12-29T09:47:29.034+00:00Key recommendations following fingerprint enquiry.<div class="style7" align="center"> <h2><strong>The Fingerprint Inquiry</strong>, Scotland </h2> </div> <p class="style13" align="justify">The Report of the Fingerprint Inquiry was published on 14 December 2011.</p> <p class="style13" align="justify"> On 14 March 2008 the Scottish Government established a public inquiry into the case of former policewoman <a href="http://www.innocent.org.uk/books/index.html#mckie">Shirley McKie</a> 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." </p> <p class="style13" align="justify">Immediately after the publication of the findings Tom Nelson, director of forensic services at the Scottish police services authority (SPSA) issued a <strong>personal apology </strong>in public over the handling of the matter to Shirley McKie and her father Iain. See <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/14/fingerprint-evidence-opinion-fact" target="_blank">Guardian report by Eamonn O'Neill</a> 14 12 2011. </p> <p class="style13" align="justify"><a href="http://www.thefingerprintinquiryscotland.org.uk/inquiry/3112.html" target="_blank">Key recommendations</a> of the Report include:</p> <ul><li>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.</li><li>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.</li><li>Features on which examiners rely should be demonstrable to a lay person with normal eyesight as observable in the mark.</li><li>A finding of identification should not be made if there is an unexplained difference between a mark and a print.</li> </ul> <span class="style13">The full report is now available online at <a href="http://www.thefingerprintinquiryscotland.org.uk/inquiry/3127.html" target="_blank">www.thefingerprintinquiryscotland.org.uk/inquiry/3127.html </a></span> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-12778228511295094922011-12-15T10:21:00.001+00:002011-12-15T10:21:03.246+00:00INUK campaign for the reform of the CCRC<br><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style> </span>We have to at least have a review of the only way back to Court of Appeal which is the CCRC…in the past the PCA was replaced by the IPCC because it was seen to be failing…critics would even say now that the IPCC needs examining!! Any body like these<b> <i><u>has</u></i></b> to be subject to scrutiny.<span style> </span>The CCRC are not only second guessing how the C of A<span style> </span>will view a case, but how the C of A viewed it previously….this should not be their priority, the whole case needs to be considered even if fresh evidence has been identified…they must look at the full picture, everything is relevant. </span><br> <br><<a href="http://www.innocencenetwork.org.uk/criminal-justice-system-still-failing-the-innocent" target="_blank">http://www.innocencenetwork.org.uk/criminal-justice-system-still-failing-the-innocent</a>> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-21787797179234398542011-12-10T15:08:00.005+00:002012-01-19T21:26:33.858+00:00Do judicial procedures obstruct miscarriages of justice from being overturned?<div><blockquote><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9gU3yvdgOM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9gU3yvdgOM</a><br /><br />This campaign attempts to outline justifications for a review of current judicial procedures regarding the criminal justice system and purported miscarriages of justice. It attempts to illustrate how a department and its procedures impact upon the actions of another. One of the key issues addressed is that of the rules of disclosure. In specific instances where it is purported there has been a miscarriage of justice this process has not been addressed adequately, thus causing the search for the truth in an adversarial system such as ours to obscure the real issue of innocence, in addition to other issues such as police misconduct. This campaign does not request the Home Affairs Select Committee to address the guilt or innocence of a particular person or to intervene in the judicial process, but to review the procedures undertaken by specific government departments:</blockquote> <div><br /></div> <div>Don't Let it Be You!, our campaign for December 2011</div> <div><br /></div> <div>Jeremy Bamber, Susan May and Eddie Gilfoyle have written attached document which is being submitted to the Home Affairs Select Committee. It is about how the judicial system as a whole obstructs those who are wrongly convicted from obtaining documents whether they are under Public Interest Immunity or simply denied to the Defence. It also calls upon the Committee to review the processes of the Ministry of Justice departments including the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Police and Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) because these bodies simply do not operate effectively owing to underfunding, organizational restrictions, political agenda, incompetence and in some cases corruption.</div> <div><br /></div> <div>If after reading '<span>Do judicial procedures obstruct miscarriages of justice from being overturned?</span>', you are minded to support the campaign, simply print it off, and send it with a brief covering letter stating that you support the submission to:</div> <div><br /></div> <div>Rt Hon Keith Vaz, Committee Chair<br />Home Affairs Committee<br />House of Commons<br />7 Millbank<br />London SW1P 3JA<br />Telephone 020 7219 3276</div> <div>Fax 020 7219 2744</div> <div>Email <a href="mailto:homeaffcom@parliament.uk" target="_blank">homeaffcom@parliament.uk</a><br /><br /></div><a href="http://www.markgoodwinpianos.co.uk/other/mgp.pdf">CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FILE</a></div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-61620394829906550832011-12-02T10:54:00.001+00:002011-12-02T10:54:10.674+00:00Cardiff Three<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/01/no-justice-for-cardiff-3" target="_blank">Satish Saker, guardian.co.uk, Thursday 1 December 2011</a><br><br>Why does this not surprise me?? It is diabolical that in any proven miscarriage of justice those who conspired to fit the evidence around the wrong person(s) are never brought to task. To be wrongly imprisoned is horrendous and it is not about 'revenge' but wholly about justice. How is it that here in this case a 'fair trial' could not be held because of 'missing' and 'destroyed' evidence, yet most miscarriage of justice evidence is 'lost', 'destroyed', manipulated, corruptly re-written.....but the conviction remains despite this?? It is surely far too convenient to comprehend that the necessary evidence needed to run this trial was inadvertently destroyed!! Certainly I see parallels with my case and I am sure so do others who have been fitted up by corrupt police. <br> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-4354304817229844112011-05-15T11:32:00.001+00:002011-05-15T11:32:07.751+00:00The Cost of Miscarriages of JusticeAnother excellent article from the human rights website sent to me by Jack Adams.<br> <a href="http://evolve.humanrightstv.com/felix-columbidae/2011/lofty-matters-cost-miscarriage-justice" target="_blank">http://evolve.humanrightstv.com/felix-columbidae/2011/lofty-matters-cost-miscarriage-justice</a><br><br> <br> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-13285427034354662322011-04-17T08:59:00.001+00:002011-04-17T08:59:14.883+00:00SISTER ISABELIt is with sadness that I want to pay tribute to a remarkable lady, Sister Isabel, who died recently. Throughout my time in prison she wrote me often. Initially she was at the convent in Langley Middleton and through some really good friends of mine who know Isabel well she learned of my situation. She went on to do missionary work abroad but never forgot me and still wrote her inspirational letters from some far flung places. Her letters always seemed to arrive at the right time....when I was feeling particularly low...and her descriptions of where she was and the people she was helping would immediately bring me round to tell myself always, there were others in far worse circumstances. She recently came with us when we went to the Houses of Commons for a meeting about the CCRC...she was in fine form and I will remember her with great fondness. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her.<br> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22565258.post-1573161570518298072011-03-23T17:10:00.001+00:002011-03-23T17:10:59.597+00:00Sheffield University. Official opening of Bartolome Lodge, School of LawObviously as I have said before it is great that more Universities are getting involved with Innocent projects. Michael Naughton, Senior lecturer at Bristol Uni' founded the Innocence Network UK and their work has been recognised so much. It is a fact that we need such projects because the system is fraught with so many difficulties and the CCRC seems to be under scrutiny. However on Friday 25th March there is an official opening of another Innocent Project which will allow law students at Sheffield to investigate alleged miscarriages of justice. I have been invited to speak at the opening and look forward to meeting those who have been responsible for this venture.<br> <br>It was great to see Eddie Gilfoyle speaking at the House of Lords yesterday.....he knows I wish him well. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/64ts8e3" target="_blank"> <span></span><span style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>http://tinyurl.com/64ts8e3</b></span></span></a> Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852597262997788952noreply@blogger.com4