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Adams, Andrew

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Mr Adams was convicted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Crown Court on 18 May 1993 of murdering Jack Royal and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.

The prosecution contended that Mr Adams had shot Mr Royal at his home in Sunniside near Newcastle late on 19 March 1990 in a revenge attack.

Mr Adams appealed against conviction. In January 1998 the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. Mr Adams applied to the CCRC in June 1998. Final submissions to the CCRC were made by his legal team in May 2003.

Mr Adams was convicted principally on the evidence of an informant in a case where an associate of Mr Adams had previously been tried and acquitted.

Mr Adams’ trial was scheduled to start on 21 April 1993. Leading and junior counsel instructed by Mr Adams’ solicitors had previously represented the associate.

On 8 April, counsel returned their briefs due to conflict of interest as it had become apparent that Mr Adams’ defence strategy would raise questions about the associate’s involvement.

New counsel were instructed on 16 April and the trial was deferred for just five days to give them time to prepare.

Amongst other concerns, the CCRC considered:

  • In an immensely complex case new counsel had insufficient time to prepare.
  • Important pre-trial preparatory work was not done.
  • The police HOLMES database was not interrogated.
  • Discrepancies of timings in police evidence were not investigated.
  • Important questions about the nature of the understanding between police and the crucial informant witness were not considered or pursued.

In addition, the CCRC identified material non-disclosure by the prosecution, particularly of evidence pertaining to the credibility of a key witness.

The CCRC also considered that there had been errors in the trial judge’s summing-up.

The CCRC referred the conviction in September 2005.

The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in January 2007.