Barrister Chris Henley KC has voiced grave concerns over the UK's appeal system following the overturning of Peter Sullivan's conviction after 38 years. His comments come after Andrew Malkinson's exoneration, who served 17 years for a crime he didn't commit. Henley emphasizes that systemic issues within the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) lead to missed justice opportunities and proposes a comprehensive reevaluation of cases that rely on flawed evidence, such as eyewitness accounts. Recent changes in leadership at the CCRC reflect mounting pressure for reform following glaring oversights in these miscarriage of justice cases.
I think that there is a fundamental problem in relation to our appeal system generally, that it just won't face up to the fact that mistakes can be made. "It stubbornly wants to stick to the original flawed conviction."
As part of the review process that I undertook, I urged the CCRC to review urgently and fundamentally every single case across their desk where DNA opportunities might arise.
Yes, I think that's absolutely inevitable. I think the case of Peter Sullivan shows us once again that mistakes will be made.
Mr Henley's report on Mr Malkinson's case found he could have been exonerated a decade earlier and laid bare a catalogue of failures in the review body's handling of his case.
#miscarriages-of-justice #criminal-cases-review-commission #judicial-system #andrew-malkinson #peter-sullivan
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