The Government has publish the Terms of Reference and announce the Chair of the Inquiry into the wrongful imprisonment of Andrew Malkinson who spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit,
Her Honour Judge Sarah Munro KC will head the non statutory hearing into the case in which saw his 2003 conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal in July, after new DNA evidence potentially linking another man to the crime was identified.
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said that Mr Malkinson deserves thorough answers as to how and why this miscarriage of justice took so long to uncover.
An innocent man spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, whilst a rapist remained on the loose. It is essential that lessons from this case are learned in full.
Judge Munro said after her appointment
“Mr Malkinson’s wrongful convictions for horrific crimes he did not commit have cost him nearly two decades of freedom – time he has been forced to spend protesting his innocence and fighting for justice – and have had a devastating impact on his life.
Speaking of the appointment Greater Manchester Chief Constable Stephen Watson said
“I welcome the appointment of Her Honour Judge Sarah Munro KC as the inquiry independent chair, and the commencement of proceedings into establishing what led to the grave miscarriage of justice experienced by Mr Malkinson.
“I reaffirm GMP’s commitment to this independent non-statutory inquiry, of which our participation will be timely, transparent, and fulsome, as is expected from us by the public.
“I would once again like to apologise to Mr Malkinson for the anguish he has suffered. I hope that the opportunity for the relevant facts to be re-examined independently, in detail, will help him achieve the resolution he deserves.
“The investigation into the original offence very much remains active and continues to progress.”
