What if you were innocent? | Louise Hewitt | TEDxDurhamUniversity

Summary

This compelling video highlights the work of the Innocence Project London and the struggle of innocent individuals wrongfully convicted of crimes. The speaker shares two case studies—Conroy and Leon—who were convicted despite maintaining their innocence, emphasizing how the criminal justice system can fail. The Innocence Project London, a pro bono legal clinic, works to investigate these claims with the help of university students, offering critical legal education. The video underscores the long-lasting impact of wrongful convictions, urging the need for support and awareness in combating these injustices within the system.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Innocence Project London helps individuals who have been wrongfully convicted and maintain their innocence after exhausting the criminal appeals process.
• 😀 Innocent people wrongfully convicted of crimes often struggle to get their case reviewed due to lack of legal aid and overwhelming caseloads for lawyers.
• 😀 The Innocence Project London is based at the University of Greenwich and involves students from various fields such as law, criminology, sociology, and psychology in investigating innocence claims.
• 😀 The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is the only body that can refer a wrongful conviction case back to the Court of Appeal if there is fresh evidence or new legal arguments.
• 😀 Joint enterprise, a legal principle used in some cases, can lead to wrongful convictions by holding individuals accountable for crimes committed by others, even without direct evidence linking them to the crime.
• 😀 The Innocence Project London is part of the global Innocence Network, which started in 1992 in New York, and works with other innocence organizations across the world.
• 😀 The Innocence Project London works with a disorganized and fragmented legal system, often dealing with missing or chaotic documentation that hampers efforts to investigate innocence claims.
• 😀 Despite the challenging nature of this work, the Innocence Project London helps students develop critical perspectives on the criminal justice system and prepares them for future roles as legal professionals.
• 😀 Wrongful convictions not only rob individuals of their freedom but also deprive them of crucial life opportunities, such as building a family or having a career.
• 😀 The cases of Conroy and Leon, wrongfully convicted of crimes they didn't commit, illustrate the profound personal and legal challenges faced by individuals caught in the criminal justice system.
• 😀 The work of innocence organizations is slow and difficult, but it is crucial in giving a voice to the wrongfully convicted, ensuring justice is eventually served.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the Innocence Project London?

The Innocence Project London focuses on investigating claims of innocence for individuals who have been convicted of crimes they did not commit, particularly those who have exhausted the criminal appeals process. The project is a pro bono legal clinic based at the University of Greenwich.

How does the Innocence Project London work with students?

Students from various disciplines such as law, criminology, sociology, psychology, and politics work on innocence cases. They investigate claims, gather evidence, and prepare applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), offering significant learning opportunities for the students.

What role does the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) play in the justice system?

The CCRC is a body that reviews cases of convicted individuals who maintain their innocence. It is the only organization with the authority to refer cases back to the Court of Appeal if there is a real possibility that the conviction may be unsafe, based on fresh evidence or new legal arguments.

What is 'joint enterprise' and how did it affect Conroy's case?

Joint enterprise is a legal principle that holds multiple individuals accountable for a crime based on a shared involvement, even if one person didn’t directly commit the crime. In Conroy's case, the prosecution argued that he was equally responsible for a murder, despite there being no direct evidence linking him to the crime.

What were the key issues with the evidence in Conroy's case?

The evidence in Conroy's case was flawed. The eyewitness testimonies came 15 months after the incident, with one identifying him incorrectly and the other being a covert human intelligence source who had failed to mention him earlier. There was also no forensic evidence linking him to the crime.

What happened in Leon's case that led to his wrongful conviction?

Leon was convicted under joint enterprise for a stabbing in Bristol in 2009. Despite no forensic evidence or eyewitnesses identifying him, he was convicted because the prosecution argued he may have been aware of the weapons used in the crime. He was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison.

What challenges does the Innocence Project London face in its work?

The Innocence Project London faces several challenges, including limited funding, overwhelming caseloads, and the difficulty of retrieving lost or misplaced case files. Additionally, the slow nature of legal processes and the high burden of proving innocence make their work particularly difficult.

Why are innocence organizations crucial, despite the slow pace of their work?

Innocence organizations are vital because they provide a last hope for wrongfully convicted individuals, particularly those who have been denied appeals. While the work is slow and challenging, these organizations help ensure that innocent people are not forgotten and that the criminal justice system is held accountable.

What is the significance of the Innocence Project London's work on students' education?

The Innocence Project London plays a crucial role in providing practical legal education to students. By working on real cases, students learn about the criminal justice system, develop critical thinking skills, and understand the importance of fairness and justice in legal practice.

What impact does wrongful conviction have on individuals, according to the speaker?

Wrongful convictions rob individuals of their lives, opportunities, and futures. People like Conroy and Leon lose decades of their lives, their careers, families, and personal freedom. The speaker emphasizes the profound human cost of these injustices, which extends beyond just the convicted individuals to their families and communities.