Richardson, Alan

Alan Richardson was convicted in September 1986 of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in January 2002.

The prosecution’s case at trial had wholly depended on confession evidence.

Following investigation, the CCRC concluded that there was a real possibility the Court of Appeal would take the view that the circumstances of Mr Richardson’s police detention and interrogation were unfair and oppressive.

Mr Richardson, then aged 19, had been interviewed nine times over three days and was denied access to a solicitor, despite the solicitor being present in the building.

The police also failed to take contemporaneous notes during the interview which may have prejudiced Mr Richardson’s case by denying him a parallel record of the denials he was to give in evidence at trial.

A proper record would have been demonstrative of Mr Richardson’s consistency up to the point of him making a confession.

The CCRC considered that the Court of Appeal may not be satisfied that Mr Richardson’s confessions were obtained fairly or in the absence of oppression.

The CCRC referred the conviction in February 2003.

The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in June 2004.