He was alleged to have murdered ten year old Lesley Molseed in Rochdale in 1975.
He served 16 years for this wrongful conviction.
I have examined many cases where convictions have later been overturned but feel strongly that this alone was the real McCoy.
Incidentally, with current levels of forensic accuracy, this wrongful conviction would have been impossible.
We must always remember that 'verdict overturned' or even a 'not guilty' is not at all the same as a proclamation of innocence. It means that the burden of proof - however close to 'beyond reasonable doubt' it may have been - has not fully met the criteria.
Do always bear this in mind when 'an innocent person' is released from jail.
