Wrongful Conviction
More luck than judgment
More luck than judgment APPEAL investigator, James Burley, who helped exonerate Andrew Malkinson, writes about the lessons that have still not be learned and why the Law Commission’s proposed appeal reforms do not go far enough. Read the article here. Read More >>> Former APPEAL Trustee Appointed to the High Court Former APPEAL Trustee Appointed to…
Read MoreOur Impact Report 2024-25
Impact Report 2024-25 Signs of Hope, Calls for Change This year, we’ve seen genuine signs of hope for those failed by the justice system. The Law Commission’s decision to undertake a long-overdue review of the criminal appeals process signals a growing recognition that our system is not working as it should, and the results…
Read MoreWrongly Convicted, Never Compensated: The Gareth Jones Story
Wrongly Convicted, Never Compensated: The Gareth Jones Story Gareth Jones’s life was destroyed when he was wrongfully convicted of a crime. Ten years later, he finally cleared his name, yet he will not receive any compensation because of a change in the law. Read the article written by Adam Bychawski for Big Issue, here. Read…
Read MoreJury on Trial
Jury on Trial: How Leveson’s Proposals Risk Greater Racial Bias and Wrongful Convictions Jury on Trial: How Leveson’s Proposals Risk Greater Racial Bias and Wrongful Convictions Alannah Burdess, Legal Intern at APPEAL, reviews Sir Brian Leveson’s proposals for jury trials. She discovered a wide range of evidence that shows how they would dismantle a centuries-old…
Read MoreAndy Malkinson
Andy Malkinson Not The Only One Andy Malkinson on the steps of the Court of Appeal on 26 July 2023, just after his name was finally cleared. Photo credit: Ben Broomfield. Andy Malkinson spent more than 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. DNA evidence APPEAL commissioned proved his…
Read MoreErrol Campbell: 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 Ronald 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 MoreIn Conversation with Cath Snow – Miscarriages of Justice: Improving Support for Survivors
In Conversation with Cath Snow – Miscarriages of Justice: Improving Support for Survivors The recent Post Office Scandal has cast a spotlight on the plight of survivors of miscarriages of justice. Churchill Fellow Cath Snow, survivor advocate at charity and specialist legal practice APPEAL – which represents individuals who have been wrongly convicted…
Read MoreThe courage and endurance of the jury
The courage and endurance of the jury Ten years ago, we celebrated the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. The Charter included Clause 39 stating that no free man could be imprisoned ‘except by the lawful judgment of his peers’ – social equals – ‘or by the law of the land’. The Magna…
Read MoreDefend our juries
Defend our juries APPEAL strongly opposes government proposals to reduce jury trials Why are juries under threat? Sir Brian Leveson’s review of our court system, announced in December 2024 by the Ministry of Justice (‘MOJ’), has reignited debate about the role of juries in ensuring justice. The review, prompted by an alarming backlog of over…
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