Description
Robert Brown was convicted of the murder of Annie Walsh who was found beaten to death in her flat. He was convicted primarily on the basis of a confession . Brown had been refused a solicitor. It was revealed on appeal that the police had used violence and the officer involved was later imprisoned for corruption. It was found that the confession was fabricated and should not have been introduced and the conviction was deemed unsafe.
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Overview
Jurisdiction
England & Wales
First & Last Name
Robert
Brown
Gender
M
Ethnicity
White
Age When Imprisoned
20
Age When Released
40
Years in Prison
25
Compensation
Compensation Paid
Yes
Compensation Link
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/spent-25-years-jail-after-16355857
Compensation Type
Compensation Amount
Dates
Year of Crime
1977
Year of Conviction
1977
Year Conviction was Overturned
2002
Excerpt
Research information
Reference
85
Link to Full Case
https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2002/2804.html
Offences
Offence
Murder
Offence Convicted Of
Murder
Most Serious Offence
Murder
Courts
Factors Involved
Confession, Official misconduct
Guilty Plea
Tried with Others
Retrial
Majority Verdict
Unanimous Verdict
Evidence
Type of Witness Evidence
Affirmative Evidence of Innocence
Fresh Evidence
Evidence undermining the reliability of a confession
CCRC Referral
Yes
Neutral Citation
[2002] EWCA Crim 2804
Online Press
https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/letters/murder-lies-corruption-and-life-inside-2468969, https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/spent-25-years-jail-after-16355857
Crown Argued Case at CofA
Previous Appeals
Unsuccessful appeal against sentence in 1978; unsuccessful application to the Home Secretary in 1993.
Number of Previous Applications
2
Legal Representation on Appeal
Mr B Emmerson QC and Mr P Weatherby