How the CCRC failed Andrew Malkinson

I met Andrew Malkinson, the victim of one of Britain’s gravest miscarriages of justice, on just one occasion. But he left quite an impression and I’ve been thinking about his case, especially since the belated resignation of Helen Pitcher, chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). 

The organisation, which investigates potential wrongful convictions, failed Malkinson terribly. He served 17 years in prison for a rape he didn’t commit; the CCRC should have referred his case to the Court of Appeal after seven years.

My encounter with the bearded, bespectacled Malkinson was at an office in central London on a summer’s day 18 months ago, shortly after his conviction had, finally, been quashed. I’d gone there for a briefing about the case with representatives from Appeal, the legal campaign group which had uncovered the crucial DNA evidence that ultimately secured his freedom. 

As we were talking, Malkinson returned from lunch and popped his head around the door.