Clarke, Charles

Charles Clarke was convicted in June 1977 of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and received a sentence of four years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in December 2000.

During investigation, a witness who had been key to the prosecution’s case admitted to the CCRC that the evidence he had given against Mr Clarke at trial was untrue.

In addition, new expert evidence suggested that a handwritten police interview record of one of Mr Clarke’s co-defendants, relied on by the prosecution at trial, was not accurate.

The CCRC considered that had the jury been aware of this at the time of the trial, it may have affected the way they viewed similar allegations made by or on behalf of the other defendants, including Mr Clarke.

The CCRC referred the conviction in February 2001.

The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in May 2002.