Mr DJ

Mr DJ was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of rape in February 2004. After spending 17 years in custody, he was released from prison in December 2020, on licence.

The victim in this case was attacked whilst walking home alone in the early hours of 19 July 2003. There was no DNA or other forensic evidence linking Mr DJ to the crime and the prosecution case relied mainly on identification evidence.

Having twice decided not to refer Mr DJ’s conviction, in April 2021 his representatives approached the CCRC with new DNA evidence.

Experts obtained a DNA profile from the victim’s clothing which matched another man on the National DNA Database.

In light of this, the CCRC decided that there was a real possibility the Court of Appeal would quash Mr DJ’s convictions.

The CCRC referred the conviction in January 2023.

The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in July 2023.

The CCRC’s handling of Mr DJ’s case was the subject of an independent inquiry by Chris Henley KC.