In this, the first of a short series reviewing the past year, a second look is taken at two cases of miscreant police officers being shielded by senior management in their respective police forces. In August, a very powerful story was published on this website. The latest in a lengthy series of exclusives dating backContinue reading “The two that got away?”
Category Archives: Miscarriages of Justice
Criminals on the loose
Earlier this week, a watchdog report revealed another series of grotesque failures by beleaguered Greater Manchester Police (GMP). Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary found that, in just one year, the force had failed to record 80,000 crimes in the year ending June, 2020 (an average of 220 per day). Thousands of others cases were alsoContinue reading “Criminals on the loose”
Cover-up at all costs
There are many thousands of words written elsewhere on this website about the so-called ‘police watchdog’ in England and Wales, most recently here. Currently known as the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), having previously existed as the Independent Police Complaints Commission (2004-2018), the Police Complaints Authority (1985-2004) and the Police Complaints Board (1977-1985). EachContinue reading “Cover-up at all costs”
We investigated ourselves and found nothing wrong
During this course of this week, details have emerged of three more sub-optimal North Yorkshire Police investigations. These add to a shocking catalogue over the past 10 years or so (read more here). Not burglaries or car break-ins, but deaths in two different rivers in the county, 12 years apart. Denying closure for bereaved familiesContinue reading “We investigated ourselves and found nothing wrong”
There’s no excuse for abuse
These days, in almost every public sector building, business or shop premises there is a notice displayed prominently that says, more or less, ‘we will not tolerate abuse of our staff’. It’s a sign of the times, if the terrible pun can be excused. It’s the same on public transport – and the illustration IContinue reading “There’s no excuse for abuse”
‘A comedy of errors’
North Yorkshire Police has finally admitted that no review of their calamitous murder investigation into the brutal death of Diana Garbutt ever took place (read more here). She was bludgeoned to death in the upstairs living quarters of Melsonby Post Office in March, 2010. Her husband, Robin Garbutt, was convicted of the murder in April,Continue reading “‘A comedy of errors’”
Case Digest: R v Robin Joseph Garbutt [2012] EWCA Crim 1167
Summary Irregularities in an offender’s post office accounting records could not prove theft and did not provide the motive for his wife’s murder. Therefore, the admission of fresh evidence seeking to explain those irregularities did not affect the safety of his conviction for murder, as it was clear that the jury had rejected his explanationContinue reading “Case Digest: R v Robin Joseph Garbutt [2012] EWCA Crim 1167”
An affront to open justice
Last Friday I reported on an appeal judgment handed down in the Leeds Registry of the High Court of Justice (read more here). It was a civil claim in which the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police and his legal team were defeated by a Bradford GP and medico-legal practitioner, Dr Abdul Rashid. It wasContinue reading “An affront to open justice”
A nest of vipers?
An eminent criminologist said to me recently, “The miscarriage of justice community is a nest of vipers” writes Neil Wilby, an investigative journalist and justice campaigner. This followed publication of another article on this website (read here), concerning a hotly-disputed innocence claim, that chronicled a campaign of abuse against, and undermining of, that same journalistContinue reading “A nest of vipers?”
Greek trial delayed until connected proceedings in Bradford are heard
The CoVID19 crisis that has afflicted the criminal and civil justice systems in England and Wales appears to have extended to the paradise Greek island of Crete. An appeal against a judgment that was handed down as long ago as April, 2013 was adjourned at a short hearing on 22nd September, 2020. It is nowContinue reading “Greek trial delayed until connected proceedings in Bradford are heard”
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