1/7 After #Quiz, what next for Charles & Diana #Ingram?

The couple maintain their innocence. Rhona Friedman of @CommonsLegal is helping them to get their convictions overturned.

How does this work?

2/7 When someone wants to appeal a conviction by jury, they must apply to the Court of Appeal for “leave”.

Charles made an application to the Court for leave to appeal in 2004. It was refused.

Why?

3/7 Two reasons:

(a) The appeal application was submitted after the 28-day deadline, and the Court did not find a good reason for the delay;

(b) The Court was not convinced, based on Charles’ arguments, that his conviction was “unsafe”.

What does "unsafe" mean?

4/7 It isn't defined in law.

Appeal judges sometimes refer to a “lurking doubt”. But they must avoid simply replacing the jury’s view with their own. 

It could mean new evidence has come to light, or errors during investigation or trial have been exposed.

What next?

5/7 Defendants only get one shot at going directly to the Court of Appeal.

However, in this case, Diana has never appealed her conviction. She has now instructed Rhona Friedman of @CommonsLegal to prepare her application for leave.

On what basis?

6/7 Diana’s appeal will be based on advances in scientific evidence which were not available in 2003, the year of the original trial.

If she succeeds, the convictions of her husband (and of Tecwen Whittock) will also be overturned.

Want to know more?

7/7 If you believe that the #Ingram's may be innocent, sign up here to be kept up to date with their case:

http://ingramsappeal.org 

#Quiz