Thread by @C4CrimAppeals

📢Breaking📢

The Court of Appeal has upheld the convictions of the #FreshwaterFive despite finding "serious and surprising mistakes" in failing to disclosure evidence.

Our press statement is here: bit.ly/3w6NhA3

1/

The judgment can be read here: judiciary.uk/judgments/r-v-…

2/

The news is brutal. But we knew better than to trust the criminal justice system to get it right.

Appeal judges might get to decide who stays in prison, but they don’t get to decide what the truth is.

And the truth is that the #FreshwaterFive were wrongfully convicted.

3/

This judgment should concern anyone who believes in the principle of trial by jury.

If convictions stand despite significant evidence being withheld, it sends a clear message to police that they can hide things from prosecutors, judges and juries and get away with it.

4/

The judgment protects a broken system from scrutiny and accountability.

The #FreshwaterFive are paying the price.

This decision serves to further underline the need for root and branch reform of our justice system.

5/

This is a dark day for the men and their families. Jon lost his father on Sunday while sitting in a prison cell. This is another kick in the teeth.

But the men and their families are resilient. They aren’t going anywhere and the fight for justice continues.

6/

Remember it took 3 tries in the Court of Appeal before the #BirminghamSix finally had their convictions overturned. The #Shrewsbury24 battled nearly 50 years for justice.

Case after case has shown that in this country, miscarriages of justice take decades to put right.

7/

In their own words:

"Once the dust has settled, we will be back fighting for this horrific miscarriage of justice to be overturned.

We are not going away. This case is not going away.

But our faith in British Justice has gone away – for good."

8/

The family statement is here in full:

9/ends