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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Man cleared of 'revenge killing' | Man cleared of 'revenge killing' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A Tyneside man who has spent more than 14 years in prison for a revenge murder has had his conviction quashed. | A Tyneside man who has spent more than 14 years in prison for a revenge murder has had his conviction quashed. |
| Andrew Adams, now 36, was convicted in 1993 of shooting former science teacher Jack Royal in Gateshead in 1990. | Andrew Adams, now 36, was convicted in 1993 of shooting former science teacher Jack Royal in Gateshead in 1990. |
| His case was referred to the Appeal Court and judges ruled there was enough evidence to render it unsafe. | His case was referred to the Appeal Court and judges ruled there was enough evidence to render it unsafe. |
| The Court of Appeal heard in December that a member of the jury which convicted him remarked to fellow jurors that he and his co-accused were guilty. | The Court of Appeal heard in December that a member of the jury which convicted him remarked to fellow jurors that he and his co-accused were guilty. |
| Judges were told a woman juror had remarked on several occasions outside the jury room during the trial that she knew "these lads are guilty". | Judges were told a woman juror had remarked on several occasions outside the jury room during the trial that she knew "these lads are guilty". |
| Evidence of the woman's remarks was given by a fellow juror - referred to only as "Juror 9" - who told the appeal judges last month that the "passing comment" was repeated by the woman "numerous times". | Evidence of the woman's remarks was given by a fellow juror - referred to only as "Juror 9" - who told the appeal judges last month that the "passing comment" was repeated by the woman "numerous times". |
| 'Criticisms and failures' | |
| Other jurors said "this can't be right", but the comments were not reported to the jury foreman or to the trial judge. | Other jurors said "this can't be right", but the comments were not reported to the jury foreman or to the trial judge. |
| The Appeal Court found various "criticisms and failures" had the cumulative effect of being "sufficient to render the verdict unsafe". | The Appeal Court found various "criticisms and failures" had the cumulative effect of being "sufficient to render the verdict unsafe". |
| Mr Royal's shooting was said to have been a revenge killing for the fatal stabbing by Mr Royal of a man during a street fight in 1987. | Mr Royal's shooting was said to have been a revenge killing for the fatal stabbing by Mr Royal of a man during a street fight in 1987. |
| Mr Royal had been cleared after two trials heard he had acted in self-defence against David Thompson, his son's 29-year-old former business partner. | Mr Royal had been cleared after two trials heard he had acted in self-defence against David Thompson, his son's 29-year-old former business partner. |
| Newcastle Crown Court found Mr Adams, then 23 and of Chapel Park, Newcastle, guilty of Mr Royal's killing in 1993. His co-accused, John Hands, was acquitted. | |
| Mr Adams said at the time that the verdict was "biased". | |
| It is a sad day because Mr Royal's murderers are still at large Andrew Adams' solicitor | |
| He had his case referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the independent body which investigates possible miscarriages of justice. | He had his case referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the independent body which investigates possible miscarriages of justice. |
| Speaking after hearing of the findings, Mr Adams, who was aged 23 at the time of the trial, said: "I am overwhelmed with all that has happened. | Speaking after hearing of the findings, Mr Adams, who was aged 23 at the time of the trial, said: "I am overwhelmed with all that has happened. |
| "A few minutes ago I was a prisoner serving a life sentence for a crime I did not commit. I am now a free man." | "A few minutes ago I was a prisoner serving a life sentence for a crime I did not commit. I am now a free man." |
| "I will now return to Newcastle and begin to rebuild the life I once had." | "I will now return to Newcastle and begin to rebuild the life I once had." |
| Ben Rose, his solicitor, said: "It is a great day because, after being in prison for 14 years for a crime he did not commit, Mr Adams's conviction has finally been quashed. | Ben Rose, his solicitor, said: "It is a great day because, after being in prison for 14 years for a crime he did not commit, Mr Adams's conviction has finally been quashed. |
| "It is a shameful day because the material which has led the Court of Appeal to quash Mr Adams conviction was there for his original lawyers to examine - something they failed to do. | "It is a shameful day because the material which has led the Court of Appeal to quash Mr Adams conviction was there for his original lawyers to examine - something they failed to do. |
| "Finally, it is a sad day because Mr Royal's murderers are still at large." | "Finally, it is a sad day because Mr Royal's murderers are still at large." |