Clarke, Ronald

Ronald Clarke was convicted in April 1997 of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and doing acts tending and intending to pervert the course of public justice. Mr Clarke received a sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in March 2001.

During review, the CCRC found evidence to suggest that the indictment upon which Mr Clarke’s trial proceeded was not signed, and that there was a real possibility the court would find that the trial and conviction should be rendered a nullity in consequence.

This conclusion was reached on the basis of previous judgments.

The CCRC referred the conviction in May 2005.

The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in May 2006.

In February 2008, the House of Lords reversed the Court of Appeal’s decision and the conviction was subsequently quashed.