Am not entirely sure how much detail I can go into on a public forum so I will keep the details for a private conversation, should someone be able to help.
I know someone (not me) who was recently found guilty of a crime they had not committed. All through the case the Police said they didn't think the PCS would prosecute as it was one person's word against another and the accusor's statements (3 in total) were not consistent.
Anyway it went to court, shortly after a damning Panarama on a similar subject, and to cut a long story short this person I know was found guilty. They lost their job as a result, their house and have had to move out of the area.
They were fined and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work.
At the appeal, some 10 months later, the chief prosecution witness refused to go into court, if the accusor was present. The judge asked him why? He went into a private meeting with the judge and told him how the previous judges had ignored everything he had told them and found the defendant guilty and he then went on to tell him what had really happened and other things that had happened both before and since the original trial.
The person found guilty was told new evidence meant there would be no appeal that day. The appeal had been delayed several times, causing them an enormous amount of stress etc, not to mention the cost of the 100 mile train journey. Anyway, I digress. Since their conviction has been quashed and they have been told they can get on with their life with a clear conscience.
However, as there was no appeal, and his conviction has been removed from the records the person is not entitled to any compensation. If the appeal had gone ahead and they had won it, they would have been entitled to a considerable sum of money in compensation for the unpaid work, stress, loss of earnings, etc.
Is this correct? They don't even get minimum wage for the community service. They have said that this person will have to pursue their employer for wrongful dismissal and the accusor for deformation of character etc.
Surely this can't be right? I thought it was called the justice system?
I know someone (not me) who was recently found guilty of a crime they had not committed. All through the case the Police said they didn't think the PCS would prosecute as it was one person's word against another and the accusor's statements (3 in total) were not consistent.
Anyway it went to court, shortly after a damning Panarama on a similar subject, and to cut a long story short this person I know was found guilty. They lost their job as a result, their house and have had to move out of the area.
They were fined and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work.
At the appeal, some 10 months later, the chief prosecution witness refused to go into court, if the accusor was present. The judge asked him why? He went into a private meeting with the judge and told him how the previous judges had ignored everything he had told them and found the defendant guilty and he then went on to tell him what had really happened and other things that had happened both before and since the original trial.
The person found guilty was told new evidence meant there would be no appeal that day. The appeal had been delayed several times, causing them an enormous amount of stress etc, not to mention the cost of the 100 mile train journey. Anyway, I digress. Since their conviction has been quashed and they have been told they can get on with their life with a clear conscience.
However, as there was no appeal, and his conviction has been removed from the records the person is not entitled to any compensation. If the appeal had gone ahead and they had won it, they would have been entitled to a considerable sum of money in compensation for the unpaid work, stress, loss of earnings, etc.
Is this correct? They don't even get minimum wage for the community service. They have said that this person will have to pursue their employer for wrongful dismissal and the accusor for deformation of character etc.
Surely this can't be right? I thought it was called the justice system?
Chris
Member No. 143
Mods so far: LED sidelights, interior lights and number plate lamps, Rover Xenon Headlights, Kenlowe Fan, Synergy 2 and EGR Bypass
Member No. 143
Mods so far: LED sidelights, interior lights and number plate lamps, Rover Xenon Headlights, Kenlowe Fan, Synergy 2 and EGR Bypass
will be along soon
...unfortunately it is very much a question of how good one's local CAB are as to how well the public are served....as I have been discovering....nonetheless, the expertise IS there, so I am glad they are being persistent!