Racial Justice
Court of Appeal quashes convictions linked to corrupt officer Derek Ridgewell
Court of Appeal quashes convictions linked to corrupt officer Derek Ridgewell © Jess Hurd 17/07/2025 London, UK. Photo credit: Jess Hurd In a historic judgment at the Royal Courts of Justice on 17 July 2025, the Court of Appeal quashed the convictions of Errol Campbell and Michael DeSouza—two men wrongfully prosecuted in the 1970s…
Read MoreLeveson’s Outcomes: A Grave Threat to Justice
Leveson’s Outcomes: A Grave Threat to Justice Sir Brian Leveson’s newly published review of the criminal courts proposes sweeping changes — including abolishing juries for many offences with sentences up to two years, and allowing judge-only trials for complex fraud. It also proposes in cases of exceptional length or complexity, a judge should be…
Read MoreJoint Enterprise on Trial
Joint Enterprise on Trial 📢 Joint Enterprise on Trial APPEAL’s Racial Justice Lead, Dr Nisha Waller, and Racial Justice Researcher, Tehreem Sultan, launched their report on 26th June 2025. Read the report and take action here A rare, inside look at how joint enterprise is being used in serious criminal trials at London’s Old Bailey.…
Read MoreIn It Together – Race and Joint Enterprise
In It Together – Race and Joint Enterprise Presented by Maxine Peake, this episode looks at how and why race affects joint enterprise and features Joseph Appiah’s experience of conviction under joint enterprise. We hear from experts including legal dragnet author Dr Nisha Waller, Dr Felicity Gerry KC, Professor Matt Dyson, Becky Clarke, Simon Natas…
Read MoreReflections on Martyn Blake’s trial
Reflections on Martyn Blake’s trial APPEAL’s Nisha Waller explores the trial of the police officer that killed Chris Kaba The recent acquittal of Metropolitan Police firearms officer Martyn Blake has sparked critical conversations about police accountability and prosecution decisions in the criminal legal system. Blake shot and killed Chris Kaba, an unarmed Black man, during…
Read MoreOur Impact Report 2023-24
Impact Report 2023/2024 What a year it has been for APPEAL! Last July after many years of hard work our client Andrew Malkinson won his appeal at the Court of Appeal. Andy was finally able to achieve justice and the outpouring of support from the public has been extraordinary. The magnitude of the fallout from…
Read MoreDoubt Dismissed
Doubt Dismissed Race, Juries and Wrongful Conviction Nisha Waller and Naima Sakande /// Jan 2024 Nisha Waller and Naima Sakande hold up their report Doubt Dismissed at the launch party in May 2024 In May 2024, APPEAL published a report on the hidden racist and classist intent behind the 1967 introduction of majority jury verdicts…
Read MoreMehmet and Peterkin
Saliah Mehmet and Basil Peterkin: posthumously cleared after 46 years vindication at last for rail workers framed by racist, corrupt british transport officer derek ridgewell The families of Saliah Mehmet and Basil Peterkin alongside Winston Trew of the Oval Four and APPEAL Co-Director Matt Foot, moments after the two men were posthumously cleared by the…
Read MoreTried by our own peers
Tried by our own peers APPEAL’s Nisha Waller explores the racist origins behind majority jury verdicts Andrew Malkinson’s exoneration in July last year rightly raised doubts about the credibility of the police and Crown Prosecution Service. But the jury, who determined his guilt, was untouched by scrutiny. Malkinson firmly asserts that his jury is not…
Read MoreProtecting the Innocent and Rolling Back Racisim and Classism: APPEAL Recommendations
Protecting the Innocent and Rolling Back Racism and Classism: APPEAL recommendations 21 May 2024 The jury system is a crucial part of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. Juries can be a powerful safeguard against an overreaching state and have the potential to bring much needed diversity of experience to decision-making in this…
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