Andrew Malkinson criticizes Helen Pitcher for portraying herself as a victim after her resignation from the CCRC
He knows what it’s like to be a scapegoat, having spent 17 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Malkinson believes the CCRC failed him and should be completely overhauled. He’s calling for Pitcher to be fired and stripped of her honors after a review showed she could have helped him much earlier.
The review revealed that Malkinson could have been exonerated nearly a decade before he finally was. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood even said Pitcher was unfit for her role. In her resignation letter, Pitcher claimed it was unfair that she was singled out for scrutiny while others weren’t.
She expressed her support for Malkinson’s appeal but felt she was unfairly blamed for decisions made before her time. Pitcher mentioned that the original rejection of Malkinson’s appeal happened almost a decade before she took over.
Malkinson was convicted in 2004 and only released in 2020 after refusing to admit guilt. His conviction was quashed in July 2023. The case involved a woman who was brutally attacked in 2003, and Malkinson has been vocal about the need for accountability.
He criticized Pitcher’s comments, saying they were shameful and called for others in the CCRC to resign too. Malkinson emphasized that the CCRC needs leaders who will challenge injustices, even against powerful institutions.
Matt Foot from the legal charity Appeal called Pitcher’s resignation a victory for those fighting against miscarriages of justice. He stressed the need for a new leadership team that understands the fight against injustice.
The Ministry of Justice welcomed Pitcher’s resignation and plans to appoint an interim chair to review the CCRC’s operations. Pitcher had been in her role since 2018 and was reappointed in 2021. She finally offered Malkinson an apology in April 2024, but only after a review suggested she should do so.
