Mr FO

Mr FO was convicted in December 2006 of rape and indecent assault. Mr FO received a sentence of seven years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in September 2012.

Following review, the CCRC concluded that the requirements of Article 24 of the Criminal Justice (Evidence) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 appeared to have not been followed in relation to the evidence of a key witness at trial. The trial judge had failed to properly direct the jury on the approach to be taken to this evidence.

In addition, the trial judge had failed to adequately direct the jury in relation to Mr FO’s good character evidence.

These failures gave rise to a real possibility that the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal would find Mr FO’s conviction unsafe.

The CCRC referred the conviction in February 2017.

The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in July 2018.