A constituent approached me in 2011 raising concerns about the failure to consider the new evidence It seemed that this should be considered and the court of appeal has now considered this. On behalf of my constituent I spent some time working with his lawyer to get the CCRC to consider this aspect of the case.
I am mainly concerned about two things directly relating to the appeal:
a) How long it took for this evidence to be considered as part of an appeal. This is an issue as to how the CCRC works.
b) That the system continues to punish people who maintain their innocence.
Both of these issues need to be considered.
This is in fact the third criminal appeal I have assisted with where the defendant was found either to be not guilty or to have been wrongly sentenced. There are other aspects of the process that cause me concern. One is that the barrister who handles the case at the court of first instance is the person who also writes the opinion as to the likelihood of success on appeal. I am not sure that this is really sensible.
Some more about his case http://www.insidetime.org/articleview.asp?a=187&c=a_lump_on_the_forehead
I am mainly concerned about two things directly relating to the appeal:
a) How long it took for this evidence to be considered as part of an appeal. This is an issue as to how the CCRC works.
b) That the system continues to punish people who maintain their innocence.
Both of these issues need to be considered.
This is in fact the third criminal appeal I have assisted with where the defendant was found either to be not guilty or to have been wrongly sentenced. There are other aspects of the process that cause me concern. One is that the barrister who handles the case at the court of first instance is the person who also writes the opinion as to the likelihood of success on appeal. I am not sure that this is really sensible.
Some more about his case http://www.insidetime.org/articleview.asp?a=187&c=a_lump_on_the_forehead
Comments
No it is not sensible, As somebody with no knowledge of this subject until recently, I have been shocked to discover that this is the protocol. Not only can a barrister give opinion on a case that he / she may have conducted in a less than perfect manner but also it is up to their discretion what evidence is submitted.. For many the option of a new legal team for the appeal is not possible as Legal aid is not provided..