Knighton, William

William Knighton was convicted in February 1927 of murder and received a sentence of death. Mr Knighton was executed in April 1927.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in December 1999.

Mr Knighton’s conviction had been based substantially on a confession to police.

Following review, the CCRC concluded that a “tunnel vision” police enquiry had led to the failure – during both the investigation and trial – to give due consideration to the possibility that Mr Knighton’s confession to the murder, which he later retracted, was untrue.

The non-disclosure by police of important forensic bloodstain evidence had also affected the defence’s presentation of the case at trial and appeal.

The CCRC referred the conviction in July 2001.

The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in October 2002.