Innocent man sues CCRC for negligence

[Izzy]

A man who spent 17 years in prison for attempted rape before having his conviction quashed on the basis of a DNA test is suing the miscarriage of justice watchdog for negligence. It is claimed the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) repeatedly failed to undertake forensic analysis of the victim’s clothing, instead relying on the assurances of the same police force that investigated the case.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-10108752.html

[Rights Fighter]

Extract:

"According to a letter from Mr Nealon’s lawyers received by the CCRC last week, the watchdog “relied upon assurances from West Mercia Police which, in due course, were found to be false” and consequently did not commission a DNA test".

You'd think that by now the CCRC would be very much aware that the police do not always act honourably and that they hide and/or destroy evidence.....

[YearsOfHell]

Extract:



You'd think that by now the CCRC would be very much aware that the police do not always act honourably and that they hide and/or destroy evidence.....

A friend of ours was accused of a crime, the police interviewed 15 separate witnesses but only 3 were included in the CPS file all of whom were relatives of the alledged "victim"
The OIC denied speaking to the other 12!

[Rights Fighter]

They may well not have done if it didn't help your case. Did you tell the solicitor about those witnesses and what they could have said to assist the defence case? They would only help if there were material witnesses to the alleged assaults or heard a retraction / knew about other proven false allegations made by the same person.

Evidence such as "my kids played in the same house and didn't see anything" is not enough.

They could also have interviewed them but then shelved the statement so the CPS didn't see them. Or if they did, possibly their statements are on the "unused" schedule but not in the unused material disclosed to the defence.