LONDON: A British man who spent 17 years in jail for a rape he didn’t commit acquired an “unreserved apology” on Thursday (Apr 18) from a assessment physique that twice rejected his makes an attempt to have his conviction referred to the Court docket of Attraction.
Andrew Malkinson, 58, had his conviction quashed final July by the appeals court docket after just lately obtained DNA proof linked one other suspect to the crime.
He utilized to the Legal Instances Overview Fee, which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, on two events, firstly as early as 2009, however was rebuffed each instances.
Following an impartial assessment of its involvement, the fee’s chair Helen Pitcher stated it was “clear” that the physique had failed Malkinson.
“For this, I’m deeply sorry. I’ve written to Mr Malkinson to supply him my honest remorse and an unreserved apology on behalf of the fee,” she stated. “No person can ever start to think about the devastating impression that Mr Malkinson’s wrongful conviction has had on his life, and I can solely apologise for the extra hurt brought about to him by our dealing with of his case.”
Malkinson stated he felt “vindicated” by the apology, however that “it’s too little too late”.
“The time for Helen Pitcher to apologise was final summer season once I was exonerated,” he stated in a press release issued on his behalf by authorized charity Attraction. “The CCRC’s failings brought about me a world of ache. Even the police apologised immediately.”
Malkinson had been discovered responsible of the brutal 2003 assault on a 33-year-old lady in Higher Manchester who had picked him out from a police lineup. On the time of his trial, there was no DNA proof linking Malkinson to the crime.
He was sentenced to life in jail, with a minimal time period of seven years, however he all the time maintained his innocence and served an extra 10 years consequently.
Malkinson was ultimately launched from jail in 2020, however his identify remained on Britain’s intercourse offenders register till his conviction was quashed.
Police have arrested one other man for the 2003 rape. He’s at present on bail.
