Andrew Malkinson: Government orders independent inquiry into wrongful conviction
The government has ordered an independent inquiry into the wrongful conviction of Grimsby Andrew Malkinson. Greater Manchester Police have apologized for the wrongful arrest.
Mr. Malkinson, was wrongly found guilty of rape in 2003, resulting in a life sentence with a minimum term of seven years. However, on 26 July, his conviction was finally overturned by senior judges at the Court of Appeal after DNA evidence linking another individual to the crime came to light.
Andrew Malkinson, now 57 years old, endured a harrowing 17-year period behind bars before his innocence was acknowledged. Despite making two applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) for his case to be referred for appeal, both were rejected. Only after the emergence of DNA evidence was Mr. Malkinson’s conviction overturned, highlighting a significant failure within the justice system.
The government’s decision to order an independent inquiry into Mr. Malkinson’s case aims to investigate the handling and role of various authorities, including the Greater Manchester Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the Criminal Cases Review Commission, in his wrongful conviction.
This inquiry serves two crucial purposes: first, to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible for the miscarriage of justice are held accountable, and second, to learn from this case and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Alex Chalk said: “Andrew Malkinson suffered an atrocious miscarriage of justice, and he deserves thorough and honest answers as to how and why it took so long to uncover.
“The core function of our justice system is to convict the guilty and ensure the innocent walk free. Yet a man spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit while a rapist remained on the loose. It is essential that lessons are learned in full.”
Chief Constable Stephen Watson of the Greater Manchester Police expressed his regret and apologized to Mr. Malkinson for the immense suffering he endured throughout the years of false imprisonment.
He acknowledged the arduous journey Mr. Malkinson had to undertake to prove his innocence and highlighted the need for a thorough examination of all relevant facts surrounding this appalling miscarriage of justice.
The Greater Manchester Police’s participation in the independent inquiry will reflect their commitment to integrity, candor, and humility.
The primary objective of the independent inquiry is to ensure that lessons are learned from Mr. Malkinson’s shocking case and to prevent similar miscarriages of justice in the future. By investigating the actions, decisions, and procedures of the Greater Manchester Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the inquiry aims to identify the shortcomings that allowed an innocent man to be wrongly convicted and imprisoned for 17 years.