01. Miscarriages of Justice Registry

Case: John Kamara

24

Age When Imprisoned

2000

Conviction overturned

43

Age When Released

20

Years in prison

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Table of Contents

Description
John Kamara and Raymond Gilbert were convicted of the murder of John Suffield, who was stabbed during a bungled robbery. Raymond changed his plea to guilty during the trial. Evidence against John consisted of Raymond naming him as his apprentice, eyewitness identification, statements made during police interviews and evidence of admissions to fellow remand inmates. The conviction was quashed on appeal due to deficiencies in the identification procedure and omissions in summing up, non-disclosure of statements taken by the police during original enquiries that suggested other possible suspects, and the circumstances surrounding Raymond’s guilty plea. BBC’s rough justice produced a documentary on this case, which is available here.
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Overview

Jurisdiction

England & Wales

First & Last Name

John
Kamara

Gender

M

Ethnicity

Black

Age When Imprisoned

24

Age When Released

43

Years in Prison

20

Compensation

Compensation Paid

Yes

Compensation Link

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/john-kamara-it-anger-kept-17103077

Compensation Type

Compensation Amount

Dates

Year of Crime

1981

Year of Conviction

1981

Year Conviction was Overturned

2000
Excerpt

Research information

Reference

39

Link to Full Case

https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2000/37.html

Offences

Offence

Murder, Robbery / burglary

Offence Convicted Of

Murder; robbery

Most Serious Offence

Murder

Courts

Factors Involved

Inadequate disclosure, Witness evidence from non-complainant

Guilty Plea

Tried with Others

Yes

Retrial

Majority Verdict

Unanimous Verdict

Evidence

Type of Witness Evidence

Eyewitness (identification)

Affirmative Evidence of Innocence

Fresh Evidence

Evidence relating to the reliability of witness testimony

CCRC Referral

Yes

Neutral Citation

[2000] EWCA Crim 37

Online Press

https://www.insidejustice.co.uk/documentaries/john-kamara-life-after-life/9, https://innocent.org.uk/2017/07/05/20-years-in-jail-as-200-witness-statements-are-withheld-john-kamara-2010/#:~:text=John%20Kamara%2C%20now%2044%2C%20from,innocence%20he%20was%20found%20guilty

Crown Argued Case at CofA

Yes

Previous Appeals

Leave to appeal dismissed in 1983

Number of Previous Applications

1

Legal Representation on Appeal

Michael Birnbaum QC, Gabb and Co Powys- https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2000/37.html

Is Post Office Case