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George Davis wins appeal against robbery conviction | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man who continually denied his involvement in an armed robbery in the 1970s has won an appeal against his conviction. | |
George Davis was jailed for 20 years for armed robbery and wounding, after a raid in April 1974 at the then London Electricity Board, in Essex. | George Davis was jailed for 20 years for armed robbery and wounding, after a raid in April 1974 at the then London Electricity Board, in Essex. |
Three appeal court judges allowed the conviction challenge brought by Davis, who is now 69, and lives in London. | |
Davis was at the Court of Appeal when the announcement was made. | |
Evidence to show the convictions were unsafe "had been in the hands of the authorities since 1977", lawyers said. | Evidence to show the convictions were unsafe "had been in the hands of the authorities since 1977", lawyers said. |
The convictions were referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), an independent body which investigates possible miscarriages of justice. | The convictions were referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), an independent body which investigates possible miscarriages of justice. |
'Mistaken identity' | 'Mistaken identity' |
Davis was tried, along with three other defendants, in 1975 but was the only one found guilty. | |
He was originally sentenced to 20 years in prison but released the following year after Home Secretary Roy Jenkins said there was serious doubt about his identification. | He was originally sentenced to 20 years in prison but released the following year after Home Secretary Roy Jenkins said there was serious doubt about his identification. |
During the 1970s his case attracted widespread attention with punk band Sham 69 writing a song about him. | During the 1970s his case attracted widespread attention with punk band Sham 69 writing a song about him. |
His campaigners insisted he was the victim of mistaken identity and had not taken part in the robbery in which a police officer was shot in the leg and injured. | His campaigners insisted he was the victim of mistaken identity and had not taken part in the robbery in which a police officer was shot in the leg and injured. |
Roger Daltrey, frontman of The Who, wore a T-shirt proclaiming Davis's innocence, with the convicted man's name daubed across railway and road bridges. | Roger Daltrey, frontman of The Who, wore a T-shirt proclaiming Davis's innocence, with the convicted man's name daubed across railway and road bridges. |
When referring the case last year, the CCRC said evidence not disclosed at the original trial, and uncovered in later investigations, meant there was a real possibility the conviction could be quashed. | When referring the case last year, the CCRC said evidence not disclosed at the original trial, and uncovered in later investigations, meant there was a real possibility the conviction could be quashed. |
The appeal was heard in February before Lord Justice Hughes, Mr Justice Henriques and Mrs Justice Macur. | The appeal was heard in February before Lord Justice Hughes, Mr Justice Henriques and Mrs Justice Macur. |