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| Ched Evans wins appeal against rape conviction but faces retrial | Ched Evans wins appeal against rape conviction but faces retrial |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former Sheffield United footballer Ched Evans has won an appeal against his conviction for rape and faces a retrial. | Former Sheffield United footballer Ched Evans has won an appeal against his conviction for rape and faces a retrial. |
| Evans, now 27, spent two-and-a-half years in jail after he was convicted in 2012 of raping a 19-year-old in a hotel in north Wales. | Evans, now 27, spent two-and-a-half years in jail after he was convicted in 2012 of raping a 19-year-old in a hotel in north Wales. |
| But three appeal judges on Thursday quashed the conviction after fresh evidence emerged. Details can not be reported for legal reasons. | |
| Ahead of the ruling the prosecution had said it would seek an immediate retrial if Evans won his appeal. | Ahead of the ruling the prosecution had said it would seek an immediate retrial if Evans won his appeal. |
| Evans made no reaction when the ruling was made but was seen hugging relatives in the corridor outside the courtroom. | Evans made no reaction when the ruling was made but was seen hugging relatives in the corridor outside the courtroom. |
| Lady Justice Hallett told the court: “On 22 and 23 March we heard argument and we heard the fresh evidence.” | Lady Justice Hallett told the court: “On 22 and 23 March we heard argument and we heard the fresh evidence.” |
| She went on: “In summary, we have concluded that we must allow the appeal and that it is in the interests of justice to order a re-trial.” | |
| Hallett said Evans must be retried on an allegation of rape and be re-arraigned on a fresh indictment within two months. | Hallett said Evans must be retried on an allegation of rape and be re-arraigned on a fresh indictment within two months. |
| The former Sheffield United striker and Welsh international was present at the London court with his girlfriend, Natasha Massey. | The former Sheffield United striker and Welsh international was present at the London court with his girlfriend, Natasha Massey. |
| Sitting at the court of appeal in central London, Hallett, Mr Justice Flaux and Sir David Maddison heard submissions over two days from Kieran Vaughan QC, for Evans, and from Eleanor Laws QC, for the crown. | Sitting at the court of appeal in central London, Hallett, Mr Justice Flaux and Sir David Maddison heard submissions over two days from Kieran Vaughan QC, for Evans, and from Eleanor Laws QC, for the crown. |
| Outside court after the ruling, Evans’s solicitor, Shaun Draycott, said: “Ched Evans is extremely grateful that the court of appeal has ruled that his conviction for rape was unsafe and should be quashed.” | |
| He thanked his lawyers, family, friends and partner on behalf of his client. “No further statement will be made as it is acknowledged by Mr Evans that the legal process has not reached a final conclusion and there will be further hearings of significance on dates to be fixed in due course.” |