Miscarriage of Justice Head Resigns Over Andrew Malkinson Case
Helen Pitcher steps down amid controversy surrounding Andrew Malkinson’s wrongful conviction
Andrew Malkinson, Helen Pitcher, CCRC, Justice Secretary, UK
Manchester: So, the head of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, Helen Pitcher, just quit. She says she was made a scapegoat for Andrew Malkinson’s wrongful conviction for rape.
She stepped down after an independent panel suggested she should go. Malkinson spent 17 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit and has been pretty vocal about how the CCRC messed up his case.
He even said they could have cleared him almost a decade ago. Pitcher claims she was unfairly targeted, saying, “A head had to roll, and I was chosen for that role.”
She feels she didn’t get a fair chance to defend herself during the inquiries. But Malkinson wasn’t having it. He called her comments “shameless” and said he knows what being a scapegoat really feels like.
He’s pushing for more accountability, saying the CCRC’s leadership needs a complete shake-up. After the review, the Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said Pitcher was unfit for her role and wanted her out.
The independent panel agreed, saying she should be removed. They acknowledged she’s competent but pointed out that her poor decisions hurt public trust in the CCRC.
It turns out the CCRC had rejected Malkinson’s appeals twice, even though they had evidence that could have helped him. Pitcher faced criticism for not addressing the public about the situation and didn’t resign even after the review highlighted several failings.
The Ministry of Justice welcomed her resignation, saying they’ll find someone new to lead the CCRC and conduct a thorough review of how things are run.