A British man, who spent 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, has finally received an apology from the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) after his conviction was quashed last July. Andrew Malkinson, 58, had been seeking justice since 2009 when he first applied to have his case referred to the Court of Appeal, only to be turned down by the CCRC on two occasions.
The CCRC's chair, Helen Pitcher, expressed deep regret for the handling of Malkinson's case, acknowledging the devastating impact his wrongful conviction had on his life. Malkinson, while feeling vindicated by the apology, deemed it as 'too little too late,' emphasizing the mental turmoil caused by the delay in receiving an apology.
An independent review revealed that the Greater Manchester Police had withheld evidence in Malkinson's case, casting doubts on the testimonies of prosecution witnesses during his trial in 2004. The British government has initiated an inquiry into the miscarriage of justice, further highlighting the systemic failures that led to Malkinson's wrongful conviction.
Malkinson, who had consistently maintained his innocence, was sentenced to life in prison in 2003 based on the identification by the victim, despite the lack of DNA evidence linking him to the crime. Following his release in 2020 and the quashing of his conviction, another man has been arrested in connection with the 2003 rape.
Malkinson's case underscores the need for accountability and reform within the criminal justice system. He has called for new leadership at the CCRC, emphasizing the importance of empathy and a commitment to fighting injustice in addressing wrongful convictions.
