Malkinson Calls Pitcher’s Victim Claims Shameless Amid Justice Scandal
Andrew Malkinson criticizes Helen Pitcher for portraying herself as a victim after her resignation from the CCRC
Andrew Malkinson, Helen Pitcher, CCRC, Salford, UK
Salford: Andrew Malkinson is not holding back. He slammed Helen Pitcher, the former head of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, for trying to play the victim after her resignation. Malkinson, who spent 17 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, knows a thing or two about being a scapegoat.
He’s calling for a complete shake-up of the CCRC, saying they made his fight for justice even harder. Malkinson pointed out that Pitcher’s claims of being unfairly targeted are just plain wrong. He believes she should be held accountable for the failures in his case.
Last July, a review revealed that Malkinson could have been exonerated much earlier. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood even said Pitcher was unfit for her role. In her resignation letter, Pitcher claimed it was unfair that she was singled out for scrutiny while others weren’t. She feels like she’s been made a scapegoat for decisions made before her time.
Pitcher mentioned that she supported Malkinson’s appeal and that the original rejection happened long before she took over. She also warned that finding someone to replace her might be tough, given the blame game going on.
Malkinson, who was convicted in 2004, finally had his name cleared in 2023. He’s not just looking for apologies; he wants real change in the CCRC. He believes the leadership needs to be filled with people who are willing to challenge injustices, even if it means going against powerful institutions.
Matt Foot from the legal charity Appeal called Pitcher’s resignation a win for those fighting against miscarriages of justice. He emphasized the need for a new leader who understands the importance of accountability and restoring public trust.
The Ministry of Justice is already on it, looking for an interim chair to take over and review how the CCRC operates. Meanwhile, Pitcher did eventually apologize to Malkinson, but only after a review suggested she should. She was initially appointed in 2018 and had her term extended in 2021.