Mr DI

Mr DI was convicted in February 2005 of rape, attempted rape and indecent assault. Mr DI received a sentence of 11 years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in October 2008.

At trial, expert medical evidence had been central to the prosecution’s case.

Subsequent to the trial, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health released a new evidence-based report which found that some of the medical findings which had been traditionally considered consistent with abuse were no longer regarded as such.

Consequently, a number of medical findings previously considered as significant were now regarded as neutral.

In this case, the CCRC obtained fresh expert medical evidence indicating that the medical observations provided at trial which were said to have been consistent with abuse could no longer be said to be indicative of sexual abuse.

The CCRC concluded that the new evidence undermined a significant aspect of the prosecution’s case against Mr DI to the extent that there was a real possibility the Court of Appeal would find Mr DI’s conviction unsafe.

The CCRC referred the conviction in July 2011.

The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in June 2012.