Description
Thomas Smart was convicted of possessing live ammunition following a bullet keyring being found at his home. The keyring was sent to the Government’s Forensic Science Service (FSS) for testing, and they concluded it was a live round. He felt forced to plead guilty to the crime. His conviction was quashed after the FSS admitted that the wrong exhibit had been examined.
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Overview
Jurisdiction
England & Wales
First & Last Name
Thomas
Smart
Gender
M
Ethnicity
White
Age When Imprisoned
Age When Released
Years in Prison
Compensation
Compensation Paid
Compensation Link
Compensation Type
Compensation Amount
Dates
Year of Crime
2008
Year of Conviction
2008
Year Conviction was Overturned
2009
Excerpt
Research information
Reference
294
Link to Full Case
https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2013/783.html
Offences
Offence
Other
Offence Convicted Of
Possession of ammunition
Most Serious Offence
Other
Courts
Factors Involved
False or misleading forensic evidence
Guilty Plea
Yes
Tried with Others
Retrial
Majority Verdict
Unanimous Verdict
Evidence
Type of Witness Evidence
Affirmative Evidence of Innocence
Y
Fresh Evidence
CCRC Referral
Neutral Citation
[2013] EWCA Civ 783
Crown Argued Case at CofA
Previous Appeals
Unknown