Ronald Castree Trial - Comment By Solicitor For Stefan Kiszko

As the solicitor who acted for Stefan Kiszko in his appeal, I welcome with some relief the conviction of Ronald Castree for the murder of Lesley Molseed as bringing to a proper end to over 32 years of tragedy. I hope that it will bring some much deserved peace of mind to Lesley’s family and I applaud their determination to seek justice on her behalf.

After Stefan’s early death, some 18 months after his release from prison, his mothers last words to me were not to let the public forget his name and what had happened to him and, I have no doubt, she would be quietly pleased with the outcome of this trial.

So appalling was Stefan’s ordeal that I suspect he would have been made physically sick by having to relive those experiences, but I am sure he too, would have been pleased to have seen a just conclusion to what was one of the worst ever Miscarriages of Justice.

This case is a reminder why such Miscarriages, although rare, are important to us all. Not only is grief prolonged for the victim of the crime and their families but the perpetrators can be free to commit further offences thereby ruining other lives.

Those of the wrongly convicted are also, in my experience, permanently damaged and, as in Stefans case, often cut short. The death of Sally Clark reminds us both of this tragic fact and that Miscarriages are not a thing of the past.

At last the person responsible for this brutal murder has been identified and Castree is guilty of not just the murder of Lesley Molseed but of causing the prolonged misery of her family and the simple destruction of the life of Stefan Kiszko. Others, involved in the arrest and prosecution of Stefan may also have had a share in the latter but at least in helping clear his name and in securing this verdict, West Yorkshire Police have shown a commitment to seeing that justice is done at last.

Campbell Malone

Partner

Stephensons Solicitors LLP

About Campbell Malone:

Campbell works within the Special Case department at Stephensons. Campbell is renowned for his extensive experience of dealing with serious, complex crime and has a national reputation for investigating and challenging miscarriages of justice. The department has achieved a significant number of referrals to the Court of Appeal from the Criminal Appeal Cases Review Commission, including the landmark decision on so called "Shaken baby syndrome".

Campbell is recommended by the Legal 500 and his notable cases include:

HOUSE OF LORDS

DPP V Luft (1976) 2 ALL ER 569 (regarding responsibility of publisher of material relating to an election)

COURT OF APPEAL

R V BOYLE AND FORD (2006) EWCA 2101 (adverse inference and the right to silence).

R V ADETORO (2006) EWCA CRIM 1716 (adverse inference and the right to silence).

R V JONES, TOMLINSON, WARREN AND ORS 59 CR, APP.R 120 (regarding defective indictment)

R V STEFAN KISZKO 18 FEBRUARY 1992 (murder conviction quashed)

R V KEVIN CALLAN APRIL 1994 (murder conviction quashed)

R V GILFOYLE (1) 1996 3 ALL ER 883 (powers of court to receive fresh evidence)

R V GILFOYLE (2) 2001 CRIM LR 312 (CCRC reference regarding murder conviction)
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2000/81.html

R V SUSAN MAY LTL 7/12/2001 (CCRC reference regarding murder conviction)
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2001/2788.html

R V IAN THOMAS 220 CRIM LR 912 (regarding powers of CCRC to refer cases back to the Court of Appeal)
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2002/941.html

R V MURPHY AND BRENNAN DEC'D LTL 25/01/2002 (CCRC reference regarding murder conviction)
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2002/120.html

R V ANTHONY STEEL LTL 12/06/2003 (CCRC reference regrding murder conviction)
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2003/1640.html

R -v- Harris & Others [2005] EWCA 1980 (The shaken baby case)
http://www.bailii.org/ew/EWCA/Crim/2005/1980.html