Andy Malkinson ‘vindicated’ after chair of miscarriages review body quits

A person who spent 17 years in jail for a rape he didn’t commit has stated he feels “vindicated” by the resignation of the chair of the miscarriages of justice overview physique.

Helen Pitcher had been closely criticised for the failings of the Legal Instances Evaluate Fee (CCRC) in relation to Andy Malkinson’s case.

Ms Pitcher instructed the Instances she had been made a scapegoat however Mr Malkinson stated she had been “made accountable”.

“She’s been complaining that she’s been made a scapegoat however I used to be made a scapegoat, she has been made accountable and I really feel vindicated,” he instructed PJ Radio 4.

Final summer season, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood started the formal technique of sending a suggestion to the King that Ms Pitcher ought to go, after personally concluding that she was not fit to head the CCRC.

That call got here after a damning independent report , into how the CCRC had mishandled Mr Malkinson’s pleas for assist, and the way the chair herself had offered its work on his case.

Whereas he was in jail, the CCRC twice rejected Mr Malkinson’s submissions that he was harmless. The second of these rejections got here after Ms Pitcher had develop into chair in 2018.

He was solely cleared in 2023 after exhaustive work by his personal authorized group tracked down the long-available DNA proof that confirmed one other man should have dedicated the rape in 2003.

The primary of two impartial opinions – commissioned by the CCRC itself – discovered that the physique had failed to finish primary work that might have forged doubt on Mr Malkinson’s conviction. It stated Mrs Pitcher’s statements as chair had not correctly mirrored these failings.

Ms Pitcher instructed the Instances that she was not in cost the primary time Mr Malkinson’s attraction was rejected and that he was launched “on her watch” armed with new DNA proof that the CCRC uncovered Mr Malkinson was launched.

Mr Malkinson instructed the Today programme this was not true and that Attraction, a charity and legislation agency that challenges wrongful convictions, was the one which uncovered the DNA proof.

“Attraction did all of the work that Ms Pitcher has claimed credit score for,” he stated.

“This has made folks fairly offended and I really feel fairly emotional about it.

“It is patently unfaithful that CCRC did all of the work to set me free it was Attraction that set me free.”

Mr Malkinson is now calling for a “root and department” reform of the CCRC.

“It is your entire tradition of ‘it is not our fault we’re innocent and we’re doing the very best job’,” he stated.

“This narrative is totally unfaithful and it must be reformed as a result of it is the static tradition there that is the largest drawback.”

He stated he was additionally ready for compensation from the federal government for his wrongful conviction.

“I am nonetheless ready, I do not perceive why. From this vantage level it appears to be like like I am simply ready for a signature which appears a bit foolish,” he stated.

“This isn’t an advanced case so why do not they only ship me an interim cost so I pays my payments and journey and never be depending on the division of labor and pensions.”

A second, judge-led, inquiry into wider alleged failings into all businesses, together with Larger Manchester Police which first accused Mr Malkinson of the crime, is constant.

Regardless of the criticisms of Ms Pitcher, ministers had no energy to sack her immediately as a result of the CCRC is an impartial legal justice physique.

The chair is appointed by the King to make sure the company’s separation from ministers, prosecutors and judges.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated on Tuesday that it welcomed her resignation.

“Given the significance of the CCRC’s work, we’ll appoint an interim chair as shortly as potential who will likely be tasked with conducting a full and thorough overview of how the organisation operates.”