On Thursday, the UK government authorized an independent investigation into the case of a man who spent 17 years in prison before his rape conviction was overturned on appeal.
The investigation will look into the roles of Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service in Andrew Malkinson’s conviction and subsequent appeals to determine the causes of “the significant miscarriage of justice” he experienced.
“Andrew Malkinson suffered an atrocious miscarriage of justice and he deserves thorough and honest answers as to how and why it took so long to uncover,” said justice minster Alex Chalk.
“A man spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit while a rapist remained on the loose. It is essential that lessons are learned in full.”
Malkinson, 57, was convicted of rape in 2004 despite there being no DNA evidence.
The Court of Appeal overturned his conviction after new DNA testing linked the crime to another man.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson said he was “very sorry that Mr Malkinson has suffered so grievously over these past many years.”
The police force’s participation in the inquiry will be “fulsome and reflective of integrity, candour and humility”, he vowed.