This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-13356120
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Supreme Court to rule on miscarriage of justice payouts | Supreme Court to rule on miscarriage of justice payouts |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The UK Supreme Court is due to rule on whether compensation should be more widely available for people who have been wrongfully convicted. | The UK Supreme Court is due to rule on whether compensation should be more widely available for people who have been wrongfully convicted. |
| The case could have implications for dozens of former prisoners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. | The case could have implications for dozens of former prisoners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| Judges will clarify the position for three men refused compensation after their murder convictions were quashed. | Judges will clarify the position for three men refused compensation after their murder convictions were quashed. |
| Lawyers for Barry George - cleared at a retrial of killing BBC presenter Jill Dando - also took part in the hearing. | Lawyers for Barry George - cleared at a retrial of killing BBC presenter Jill Dando - also took part in the hearing. |
| Mr George spent eight years in jail before being acquitted in August 2008 of Ms Dando's murder. | Mr George spent eight years in jail before being acquitted in August 2008 of Ms Dando's murder. |
| The High Court later ruled he was entitled to a judicial review hearing over the government decision to refuse him compensation. | |
| Beyond reasonable doubt | Beyond reasonable doubt |
| People who have been wrongfully convicted are entitled to compensation only if they can show there's been a "miscarriage of justice". | People who have been wrongfully convicted are entitled to compensation only if they can show there's been a "miscarriage of justice". |
| But the meaning of the phrase has been unclear since a Law Lords ruling in 2004 which came up with different definitions. | But the meaning of the phrase has been unclear since a Law Lords ruling in 2004 which came up with different definitions. |
| The version adopted by the government has resulted in compensation being denied to people because they could not prove their innocence beyond reasonable doubt. | The version adopted by the government has resulted in compensation being denied to people because they could not prove their innocence beyond reasonable doubt. |
| The men involved in the Supreme Court case have seen their claims for compensation rejected despite them being cleared by the Court of Appeal. | The men involved in the Supreme Court case have seen their claims for compensation rejected despite them being cleared by the Court of Appeal. |
| The main case in the proceedings involves Andrew Adams, who spent 14 years in jail after being wrongly convicted of murder. | The main case in the proceedings involves Andrew Adams, who spent 14 years in jail after being wrongly convicted of murder. |
| Mr Adams, from Newcastle, was found guilty in 1993 of shooting retired science teacher Jack Royal, but released in 2007 by the Court of Appeal. | Mr Adams, from Newcastle, was found guilty in 1993 of shooting retired science teacher Jack Royal, but released in 2007 by the Court of Appeal. |
| The High Court later rejected his compensation bid, and Mr Adams took his case to the Court of Appeal. | The High Court later rejected his compensation bid, and Mr Adams took his case to the Court of Appeal. |
| The two other cases are from Northern Ireland. | The two other cases are from Northern Ireland. |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says if the court widens the meaning of "miscarriage of justice" the government will have to reconsider Mr George's claim - along with many others that have been turned down. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says if the court widens the meaning of "miscarriage of justice" the government will have to reconsider Mr George's claim - along with many others that have been turned down. |
| However, the judgement is unlikely to affect Scotland where there are fewer restrictions on eligibility for compensation. | However, the judgement is unlikely to affect Scotland where there are fewer restrictions on eligibility for compensation. |