The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the Grievous Bodily Harm convictions of James McDaid and Ronald Clarke to the Court of Appeal.
Both men were convicted on 23 April 1997 at Worcester Crown Court of Grievous Bodily Harm and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
The prosecution contended that they were involved in an attack in the Plough pub in Rubery, near Birmingham, in February 1996. A man was left with severe hand injuries.
Mr McDaid was also convicted of damaging property reckless as to whether life was endangered and given two years to run consecutively, and received a three-month concurrent sentence for criminal damage. Mr Clarke was also convicted of perjury and sentenced to 18-months to run concurrently.
The Full Court dismissed an application for leave to appeal by Mr McDaid in February 1998. He applied to the Commission on 24th February 2000.
The Full Court dismissed an application for leave to appeal by Mr Clarke in February 1998. He applied to the Commission on 1 March 2001.
The Commission has now completed a review of the case and has decided to refer the GBH convictions back to the Court of Appeal.
The Commission is the independent public body set up by Parliament in 1997 to investigated suspected miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to decide if they should be referred to the appeal courts.
Mr McDaid’s solicitor is Maslen Merchant, Hadgkiss Hughes & Beale Solicitors, Alcester Road, Birmingham, B13 8EB, Tel 0121 449 5050
Mr Clarke’s solicitor is Ms Calista Priddey, Mian & Co, 190 Corporation Street, Birmingham, B4 6QD, Tel 0121 684 8000.
This press release was issued by Boris Worrall, Head of Communication, Criminal Cases Review Commission on 0121 633 1806 or 07947 355231
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