Mr HZ

Mr HZ was convicted in the Crown Court in 2018 and received a sentence of 16 years’ imprisonment. Leave to appeal against conviction was dismissed by both the Single Judge and the Full Court.  

The case concerned allegations of conspiracy to commit robbery. During the police investigation, evidential swabs were taken from the crime scene and were subject to DNA testing in an attempt to identify the perpetrator(s) but this did not lead to an identification.  

In 2025, following an application from Mr HZ, the CCRC had the swabs re-tested, and the resulting profiles compared to a number of individuals. The new DNA evidence pointed away from Mr HZ and towards a potential alternative suspect.

This new forensic evidence was supported by information from the Police National Computer and contemporary photographic evidence which undermined significant aspects of the case made by the prosecution at trial. The CCRC therefore concluded that there was a real possibility Mr HZ’s convictions would not be upheld.

The CCRC referred the conviction in March 2026.