UoBIP: 'Is the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) Fit For Purpose?', House of Commons, 30 November

23 November 2010

Dr Michael Naughton and Gabe Tan of the University of Bristol Innocence Project and the Innocent Network UK (INUK) will be amongst those speaking at an open meeting at the House of Commons, sponsored by John McDonnell MP, on the topic of 'Is the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) Fit For Purpose?' on Tuesday 30 November 2010, 18:30 - 20:30.

"Some battles in the criminal justice system go on and on. One of the most enduring is that of Susan May. At Manchester Crown Court in May 1993, she was convicted of the murder of her elderly aunt, Hilda Marchbank. During her imprisonment she never admitted guilt, or showed remorse, and certainly never did any offending behaviour courses. She was released in 2005, having served her full 12-year tariff. Her fight to clear her name simply moved with her from Askham Grange back to her home in Royton, Greater Manchester. To this day, the fight continues."

Bob Woffinden, Insidetime October 2010.

Chair:

John McDonnell MP, Hayes and Harlington.

Speakers:

Dr Michael Naughton. Founder and Director of Innocent Network UK (INUK), School of Law, University of Bristol
Bob Woffinden. Investigative journalist and campaigner, specialising in miscarriages of justice
Mark Newby. Solicitor and Director of the Historical Abuse Appeal Panel (HAAP)
Henry Blaxland Q.C. President of the Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association (CALA)
Gabe Tan. Head of Casework, Innocence Network UK (INUK), School of Law, University of Bristol

In light of the CCRC's refusal to send the case of Susan May back to the Court of Appeal and the growing concern and dissatisfaction from many sectors, John McDonnell MP invites you to this open meeting to meet with Susan and her friends and hear from the named speakers who now argue that the CCRC is no longer fit for purpose.

Further information

The University of Bristol Innocence Project (UoBIP), the first dedicated Innocence Project in the UK, is an extra-curricula pro bono legal clinic which teaches law through working on real cases of prisoners maintaining innocence. Established in January 2005 by Dr Michael Naughton, the UoBIP, which is also the founding member of the Innocence Network UK (INUK), is a collaborative venture of undergraduate and postgraduate law students working under academic supervision and guidance, where appropriate, from pro bono criminal lawyers, forensic scientists, and others.

Dr Michael Naughton obtained both his BSc and PhD from the University of Bristol. He teaches in the general area of criminal justice and the specialist area of miscarriages of justice in both the School of Law and Department of Sociology. He is the Founder and Chair of the Innocence Network UK (INUK), the umbrella organisation for member innocence project in UK universities, and Director of the University of Bristol Innocence Project (UoBIP), the first dedicated innocence project in the UK, through which he coordinates student investigations of cases of alleged wrongful imprisonment.

Please contact Gabe Tan for further information.