Criminal Cases Review Commission Apologizes to Man Wrongfully Convicted of Rape

Andrew Malkinson, a British man who spent 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, has received an "unreserved apology" from the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) for failing him. Malkinson was convicted in 2003 for a brutal attack on a woman in Salford and sentenced to life imprisonment. His conviction was finally quashed in July 2022 after DNA evidence linked another suspect to the crime.

The CCRC, which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, had twice rejected Malkinson's attempts to have his conviction referred to the Court of Appeal. An independent review revealed that the CCRC failed Malkinson, and the commission's chair, Helen Pitcher, acknowledged the "additional harm" caused by the body's handling of his case.

Malkinson criticized the delayed apology, stating that the time for Pitcher to apologize was last summer when he was exonerated. He called for new leadership at the CCRC, emphasizing the need for people with empathy, humility, and a track record of fighting injustice to lead the organization.

The Greater Manchester Police also apologized for what they described as a "grave miscarriage of justice" in Malkinson's case. The police and the British government are conducting inquiries into the wrongful conviction, highlighting the systemic failures that led to Malkinson spending nearly two decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit.

Why this matters: Malkinson's case underscores the need for accountability and reform within the criminal justice system to prevent similar miscarriages of justice from occurring in the future. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of the CCRC in investigating and referring potential wrongful convictions to the Court of Appeal.

Malkinson, who had consistently maintained his innocence, was released from prison on license in 2020, but his name remained on the sex offenders' list until his conviction was quashed. Following the overturning of his conviction, another man has been arrested in connection with the 2003 rape. The CCRC has committed to implementing the recommendations from the independent review of Malkinson's case to prevent similar injustices from happening to others.

Key Takeaways

• Andrew Malkinson wrongly convicted of rape, spent 17 years in prison
• Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) failed Malkinson, apologized for mishandling case
• Police, UK govt conducting inquiries into systemic failures leading to wrongful conviction
• Malkinson's conviction quashed in 2022 after DNA evidence linked another suspect
• CCRC committed to reforms to prevent similar miscarriages of justice in the future