Earlier this month, the launch of a series of essays entitled "Wrongly accused: Who is responsible for investigating miscarriages of justice?" was held at the College of Law.
It is the fourth publication in the JusticeGap series (published by the Solicitors Journal).
A lively debate on the serious topic of miscarriages of justice was held to celebrate the launch. It was chaired by Francis FitzGibbon QC, of Doughty Street Chambers with a panel of experts, including human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce; the pioneering journalist David Jessel; veteran defence lawyer Campbell Malone; Emily Bolton, project manager with the fledgling Centre for Criminal Appeals; and Alastair MacGregor QC, deputy chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
Campbell Malone, consultant to the Appeals team at Stephensons, was part of the panel. He said that in 40 years he had advised ‘many people who I have felt to be innocent; but I have only dealt with one that I have known to be innocent on the basis of clear scientific evidence’ (Stefan Kiszko). ‘I’m old-fashioned and I believe passionately you are innocent until you’re proved guilty; and you are only proved guilty when you have had a fair and proper trial. If that breaks down, it is established you are innocent as far as I’m concerned.’
Follow this link to read the JusticeGap blog which details the panel debate in full: Wrongly accused launch: a death of justice
By criminal appeals solicitor and Stephensons’ Partner, Correna Platt
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