Press releases
Commission refers the conspiracy to murder convictions of Wassab Khan, Faisal Saraj, Abdul Jabbar, Abdul Maroof and Omran Rashid
The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred to the Court of Appeal the conspiracy to murder convictions of Wassab Khan, Faisal Saraj, Abdul Jabbar, Abdul Maroof and Omran Rashid. The five men were convicted together at Stafford Crown Court in November 2011 for their parts in the shooting of Mohammed Afsar. On 21st December Wassab … Read more >
Commission refers the joint enterprise murder conviction of Laura Mitchell to the Court of Appeal
The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the joint enterprise murder conviction of Laura Mitchell to the Court of Appeal. Laura Mitchell was tried for murder and violent disorder on the basis of joint enterprise at Bradford Crown Court in September 2007. She pleaded not guilty but was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment with … Read more >
Commission refers the conviction of A to the Crown Court
The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the malicious communications conviction of A to the Crown Court. Mr A was convicted at magistrates court in 2014 of sending a communication conveying false information with the intent to cause distress, contrary to section 1 (1)(a) of the Malicious Communications Act 1988, (“MCA 1988”). He was sentenced … Read more >
A new CCRC Stakeholder Forum and Lecture Series starting 2018
The Criminal Cases Review Commission is launching two new significant stakeholder engagement initiatives. A new CCRC Lecture Series will start on April 25th with a lecture by Sir Brian Leveson called The Pursuit of Criminal Justice. Sir Brian Leveson is Head of Criminal Justice in England and Wales, President of the Queen’s Bench Division and the author of the … Read more >
Text of letter sent 5 July 2016 from CCRC Chair Richard Foster to DPP, Attorney General and others
Dear Re: Disclosure in Criminal Proceedings During the course of its work, the Commission occasionally encounters themes that occur across a range of case reviews. When these themes give cause for concern, the Commission will seek to draw attention to them in the hope that they can be addressed to the betterment of the wider … Read more >
Comment piece by CCRC Chair Richard Foster – written at request of Daily Mail on 22 December 2017, but unused.
The right to a fair trial is at the heart of our justice system and is a cornerstone of our democracy. In the 1980s this right was breached, leading to shocking miscarriages of justice such as the Birmingham Six and Guildford Four. The police failed in their fundamental duty of honesty. That is why … Read more >
CCRC statement on the quashing of Stephen Simmons’ convcition
Here is a brief statement from CCRC about the decision of the Court of Appeal today to quash Stephen Simmons’ conviction. We are pleased for Mr Simmons and pleased to have been able to help him. Criminal cases tend to be very fact specific and it is often difficult to draw conclusions about one case on the … Read more >
Commission refers the sexual offences conviction of Z to the Court of Appeal on grounds of non-disclosure
The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the sexual offences conviction of Mr Z to the Crown Court. Mr Z appeared at Lewes Crown Court in April 2007 charged with causing a child to watch a sexual act (pornography) contrary to section 12(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and with sexual activity with a … Read more >
Commission statement on the 2017 application of Michael Stone
The case of Michael Stone is currently under active investigation at the Criminal Cases Review Commission and we are looking into a number of issues. We received the application from Mr Stone’s legal representatives on 23 August 2017. Since then we have taken steps to secure information and materials relating to the investigation and prosecution … Read more >
Commission statement on the non-referral of the convictions of Jonathan Beere, Scott Birtwistle, Jamie Green, Daniel Payne and Zoran Dresic
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has concluded it cannot refer for appeal the drug smuggling convictions of Jonathan Beere, Scott Birtwistle, Jamie Green, Daniel Payne and Zoran Dresic. The men were tried together at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on charges of conspiring to import 255 kilogrammes of cocaine. On 2 June 2011 all five were … Read more >