Mr X

Mr X was convicted in March 1997 of indecent assault and rape. Mr B received a sentence of eight years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in July 1998.

In this case, there had been a substantial time gap (19 years) between the alleged offences and the trial.

Previous judgments had emphasised the importance in cases of this nature for the judge to forcefully draw the attention of the jury to the prejudice caused to the defendant by such a delay, particularly relating to the burden and standard of proof.

The CCRC considered that the jury’s attention was insufficiently drawn to these prejudices at Mr X’s trial, and it referred the conviction in October 1998.

The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in January 1999.