Snooks, John

John Snooks was convicted in December 1995 of possession with intent to supply 277.62 grammes of herbal cannabis and possession of 33.18 grammes of cannabis resin. Mr Snooks received a sentence of 30 months’ imprisonment.

The CCRC inherited an application for review of the conviction from the Home Office in March 1997.

Mr Snooks was charged with two other co-defendants. One of the co-defendants, Mr Queen, had his case severed and was tried separately.

At Mr Snooks’ trial, he and his co-defendant alleged that Mr Queen had been responsible for the offences.

However, the trial judge directed the jury that because Mr Queen was no longer part of the case they should put him out of their minds.

The absence of Mr Queen from the trial meant that Mr Snooks was unable to put his case to Mr Queen.

The CCRC considered that the prosecution’s decision to sever the case and then not offer any evidence against Mr Queen at Magistrates’ Court rendered Mr Snooks’ trial unfair in that it deprived Mr Snooks of the opportunity to present his complete defence.

The CCRC referred the conviction in August 2000.

The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in May 2001.