The head of the body responsible for investigating potential miscarriage of justices in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has resigned following months of criticism. Karen Kneller stood down as chief executive of the embattled Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) after 12 years in the role. There had been calls for her to resign when the CCRC admitted "failing" Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit despite serious concerns the evidence against him was flawed. In May, the justice select committee said the organisation had shown an "inability to learn from its own mistakes" on Ms Kneller's watch. She has not commented since her departure was confirmed. Dame Vera Baird, who was appointed chair of the CCRC last month and tasked with leading a review of it, said: "The CCRC has a vital role to play in the criminal justice system, but confidence in the organisation has been badly damaged. Confidence in our work must be restored." Ms Kneller's resignation is the second high-profile departure at the review body this year. In January, Helen Pitcher quit as CCRC chair after an independent panel found it had let Mr Malkinson down. The 59-year-old was accused of raping a woman in Greater Manchester in 2003, and later jailed for life despite no DNA linking him to the crime. He was released in December 2020. While Mr Malkinson was in jail, the CCRC twice rejected his submissions that he was innocent - the second of which was after Mrs Pitcher became chair. His case was not referred to the Court of Appeal until January 2023, a full 20 years since being wrongly accused. He was fully exonerated in the July of that year. Matt Foot of legal charity Appeal, which represented Mr Malkinson when he successfully challenged his conviction in the courts, said Ms Kneller's resignation was "long overdue". He continued: "Ultimately, a completely fresh senior leadership team - with a track record of challenging injustice - is required for the CCRC to become effective." Amanda Pearce, casework operations director at the CCRC, has been appointed interim chief executive.
Chair of miscarriage of justice body quits after criticism
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"Chief Executive of Criminal Cases Review Commission Resigns Amid Ongoing Criticism"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Karen Kneller, the chief executive of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), has resigned after facing significant criticism regarding the organization's handling of miscarriage of justice cases. Her departure follows a prolonged period of scrutiny, particularly after the CCRC acknowledged its failure in the case of Andrew Malkinson, who was wrongfully convicted and spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Despite evidence suggesting the flaws in the case against him, the CCRC had previously rejected his appeals for exoneration. The justice select committee criticized the CCRC for its inability to learn from past mistakes during Kneller's leadership, further intensifying the calls for her resignation. Since her resignation, Kneller has not made any public comments about the situation, leaving the organization to navigate the fallout from her departure and the broader implications for its credibility.
Dame Vera Baird, who recently took over as chair of the CCRC, has been tasked with leading a comprehensive review of the commission. She acknowledged the crucial role that the CCRC plays within the criminal justice system but emphasized that public confidence in the organization has been severely compromised. This resignation marks the second significant leadership change at the CCRC this year, following the earlier resignation of Helen Pitcher, who stepped down after an independent panel found that the commission had failed Andrew Malkinson. The legal community has voiced the need for a complete overhaul of the CCRC's leadership, with calls for individuals who possess a strong commitment to challenging injustices to take the helm. Amanda Pearce, who serves as the casework operations director at the CCRC, has been appointed as the interim chief executive as the organization seeks to rebuild trust and address the systemic issues that have plagued it in recent years.
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