Janice R. Andrews
Andrew Malkinson, a British man who served 17 years in jail for a crime he did not commit, has rejected a “unreserved apology” from the review board that had twice rejected his appeals. This is a shocking turn of events.
Malkinson’s rape conviction was reversed in July of last year when DNA evidence connected a different suspect to the incident. He tried to get his case sent to the Court of Appeal, but the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) turned down his requests twice, which led to a lot of backlash.
The chair of the CCRC, Helen Pitcher, expressed sincere regret and admitted the organization’s shortcomings in Malkinson’s case following an independent assessment. Malkinson, however, voiced his displeasure in a statement released by the legal charity Appeal, claiming that his mental suffering was made worse by the CCRC’s tardiness in apologizing.
Malkinson further emphasized how quickly the police apologized in contrast to the CCRC’s handling of the situation, emphasizing the further suffering brought on by the commission’s failures.
The miscarriage of justice has been made worse by the Greater Manchester Police, who have been accused of hiding evidence and raising questions about the prosecution witnesses’ testimony during Malkinson’s trial. To address these issues, a government investigation is in progress.
Malkinson demanded that Helen Pitcher be removed from her position as the CCRC’s head of leadership and urged the UK’s justice secretary to replace her with someone who has a track record of empathy and dedication to justice.
Malkinson was wrongfully convicted in a 2003 Salford rape case because the victim recognized him in a police lineup. Malkinson was given a life sentence despite his repeated protestations of innocence; he would serve an extra ten years in jail before being released in 2020. Notably, up until his sentence was reversed, his name was still listed among the sex offenders.
A noteworthy development pertains to the arrest of an additional man in connection with the 2003 rape; he is presently free on bond while additional investigation is conducted.
