In a heart-wrenching case of injustice, an innocent man named Andrew Malkinson spent 17 years in jail for a crime he did not commit.
But finally, the Court of Appeal has cleared his name, setting him free from the wrongful conviction.
Back in 2003, Andrew was found guilty of raping a woman in Greater Manchester, even though there was no forensic evidence linking him to the crime.
Despite his continuous claims of innocence, he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of seven years.
The conviction was primarily based on a flawed identity parade and misleading evidence by two witnesses.
During his imprisonment, Andrew fought relentlessly to prove his innocence.
After 20 years of battling for justice, his case was referred to the court in January by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice.
The breakthrough came when DNA evidence pointed to another man as the true culprit.
The Court of Appeal cleared Andrew of all charges, acknowledging the grave miscarriage of justice he endured.
In his emotional response, Andrew expressed his anger at the system that failed him, causing him to lose "half of my life and suffer incredible indignities, pain, and psychological torture."
Andrew's ordeal sheds light on the flaws in the UK justice and appeals systems.
His lawyer also highlighted the "deplorable disclosure failures" by the Greater Manchester Police, which affected his trial's fairness.
Despite finally regaining his freedom, Andrew faces the harsh reality of rejoining society after years of wrongful imprisonment.
The real perpetrator remains at large, and Andrew calls for a full criminal investigation into what happened.
Following the successful appeal, the Greater Manchester Police expressed their profound apologies to Andrew for the miscarriage of justice and the victim of the crime.
They promised to follow new lines of inquiry to ensure the true offender is held accountable for the harm caused.
Andrew's story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of a fair and just legal system, where innocent lives are not ruined due to errors and misconduct.
His fight for justice continues as he seeks to rebuild his life after two decades of wrongful imprisonment.
In another news, a man has been sentenced to 48 years in prison for the murder of a police officer. See details here
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