Mr GH
Mr GH was convicted in December 1978 of attempted murder and attempted buggery. Mr GH received a sentence of detention for life.
Mr GH was aged 14 when arrested and interviewed. He was 15 at the time of trial.
Mr GH was convicted principally on the basis of confession evidence obtained at the conclusion of an unrecorded interview lasting over three hours without a break.
The confession was in the form of a written statement which was said to be the unaided composition of Mr GH.
At trial, Mr GH’s defence counsel attempted unsuccessfully to have the confession evidence excluded on the grounds that the confession was not voluntary.
Following review, the CCRC concluded that it appeared officers had exerted pressure on Mr GH by raising the possibility of bringing further charges on an unrelated incident.
No solicitor or other adult was present at the interview and Mr GH was not cautioned or advised of his legal rights until over half way through the interview.
This made Mr GH’s confession non-compliant with the Judges’ Rules and modern standards of fairness.
The CCRC observed that the police had previously obtained confessions from three other youths, not subsequently proceeded against, for the same crime.
The CCRC also obtained new evidence from a forensic psychologist who considered that the circumstances of Mr GH’s interrogation were liable to lead to a “coerced compliant confession”.
The CCRC referred the conviction in August 2004.
The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in May 2005.