At the least eight convictions predating the Horizon Put up Workplace scandal are being checked out by the physique investigating potential miscarriages of justice, Sky Information has realized.
The Prison Instances Overview Fee (CCRC) has confirmed it’s inspecting a number of circumstances of former sub-postmasters affected by Seize software program.
The pc accounting system was used within the early Nineties, previous to Horizon being launched to Put up Workplace branches from 1999 onwards.
Horizon was on the centre of the Put up Workplace scandal and noticed lots of of sub-postmasters wrongly convicted of stealing from their branches.
The Kroll report, commissioned by the federal government earlier this yr, discovered that Seize had bugs and glitches and there was an inexpensive chance it had induced money shortfalls too.
Lord Beamish, the previous Labour MP Kevan Jones, has been supporting victims and is asking for the federal government to increase present laws to routinely quash convictions.
The Put up Workplace (Horizon System) Offences Act was handed in Could however doesn’t embody Seize victims.
Lord Beamish informed Sky Information he has raised the problem with the Justice Secretary and referred to as for a Home of Lords debate.
“The government are going to have to take this seriously,” he stated. “We can’t have a situation where we have a two-tier system where people get exonerated from Horizon and the Capture cases are either forgotten or have to go through a very lengthy legal process to get their names cleared.”
He added he had “little faith” within the CCRC’s “ability to deal with cases”, after a number of Horizon circumstances had been referred to the physique years in the past.
“The issue with these circumstances is the shortage of proof… that has been destroyed or misplaced so really proving a few of these circumstances by that course of shall be very tough.
“Therefore I think a blanket exoneration like we had with Horizon I think has got to be discussed and considered for these cases.”
The CCRC informed Sky Information it has 5 circumstances beneath assessment “in which the Capture IT system could be a factor”.
It additionally stated it’s “seeking further information” on eight circumstances referenced within the Kroll report.
Learn extra:
Girl who died after conviction might have suffered miscarriage of justice
Former postmaster says compensation supply is ‘insulting’
Put up Workplace chairman ousted amid row with authorities
The CCRC added that the time taken for a case assessment to be accomplished was depending on the “complexity” of every case “and how readily available information about it is”. In an announcement, it admitted: “The availability of information can be a particular hurdle in older cases.”
Chris’s mom died earlier this yr following a battle with Alzheimer’s and by no means bought to clear her identify
Chris Roberts’ mom, Liz Roberts, was convicted in 1999 of stealing £46,000 from the Put up Workplace and spent 13 months behind bars.
Liz, who was within the superior phases of Alzheimer’s illness, handed away earlier this yr.
Chris stated she was jailed 4 days earlier than he turned 17, and he used to have “nightmares” that she was “going to die in there”.
“There was no evidence of any financial gain because they went through everything. And obviously the money wasn’t in our accounts because it didn’t exist,” he added.
Regardless of being supplied “three deals” by the Put up Workplace to plead responsible, Liz refused and was despatched to jail.
Liz Roberts throughout happier instances earlier than she was jailed for theft – her son insists she was harmless
Chris believes that the 2019 Excessive Court docket win by Horizon victims was a missed alternative for the Put up Workplace to look again at Seize circumstances.
“It would have been worth something then because my mum would have died knowing that everybody else knew she was innocent,” he stated.
“My dad would have died knowing that the love of his life wasn’t vilified as a criminal.”
Chris desires his mom exonerated and “those actively responsible” to “stand up in court… and justify themselves”.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
A Division for Enterprise and Commerce spokesperson stated: “We had been horrified to be taught in regards to the points with the Seize system and are working carefully throughout authorities to totally look at Kroll’s unbiased report and contemplate what motion must be taken.
“We continue to listen to postmasters and others who have been sharing their views on the report’s findings since its publication last month.”
