Yahoo News Criminal review board 'sorry' for failing Grimsby man who spent 17 years in jail for rape he didn't commit
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has issued an "unreserved apology" to Grimsby man Andrew Malkinson, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 17 years after being convicted of rape.
Helen Pitcher, the chair of the CCRC, expressed deep regret following an independent review by Chris Henley KC, which highlighted the commission's failure in Mr Malkinson's case. She stated: "For this, I am deeply sorry."
Last summer saw the overturning of Mr Malkinson's 2003 conviction, following his persistent claims of innocence.
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Despite applying to the CCRC for a case review in 2009, it wasn't until much later that action was taken; the CCRC initially declined to refer his case for appeal or conduct further forensic testing in 2012, citing cost concerns. A subsequent application in 2020 was also turned down.
It was revealed that pivotal DNA evidence had been available since 2007, yet no matches were found in the police records at that time.
Ms Pitcher, in a recent statement, reiterated her remorse, saying: "Mr Henley's report makes sobering reading, and it is clear from his findings that the commission failed Andrew Malkinson. For this, I am deeply sorry. I have written to Mr Malkinson to offer him my sincere regret and an unreserved apology on behalf of the commission.
"There may have been a belief that I have been unwilling ever to apologise to Mr Malkinson, and I want to clarify that this is not the case. For me, offering a genuine apology required a clear understanding of the circumstances in which the commission failed Mr Malkinson. We now have that.
"Nobody can ever begin to imagine the devastating impact that Mr Malkinson's wrongful conviction has had on his life, and I can only apologise for the additional harm caused to him by our handling of his case."
