Newell, Francis

Francis Newell was convicted in November 1974 of an armed robbery of a Post Office in Lisburn in August 1973 following a trial at the Belfast City Commission. Mr Newell received a sentence of eight years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in April 2009.

Following investigation, the CCRC concluded that there were a number of concerning features regarding identification evidence. This evidence had been key to the prosecution’s case at trial.

New information which had not been disclosed to the court or defence at trial or appeal indicated that Mr Newell may not have committed the offence.

If disclosed, this material would have given rise to lines of enquiry the defence could have pursued. The material also supported other elements of Mr Newell’s account at trial.

The CCRC referred the conviction in July 2013.

The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in September 2014 .