Were it not shocking enough that we continue to wrongly convict people in England and Wales and make it ever harder for them to win their appeal, we are abandoning those individuals who manage to win their freedom, penniless, often homeless, and always damaged. With the recent showing of a compelling TV documentarly that investigates whether there has been a number of health professionals wrongful convicted of murder, concerns are once again being raised about what happens to victims even after they win their freedom. The case of Victor Nealon, wrongfully convicted and released miles from any support (he had to walk to a local journalists house and ask for a bed for the night), is sadly just one recent example. Post-conviction compensation for those wrongly convicted in the UK has always been hard won and almost always pitiful. However, the ‘crackdown’ on what constitues a ‘miscarriage of justice’ now means that almost no-one will receive compensation in the future. Individuals have to prove ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ that they did not commit the crime. DNA from another individual on crime exhibits may suffice to have your conviction overturned at the Court of Appeal, but is insufficient to prove you are not the perpetrator and worthy of compensation. See the latest news item here on this shocking development:
Miscarriage of justice victims will find it harder to get compensation, lawyers say
In a perhaps even more sobering tale, Tony Poole, exonerated in 2003 of a 
murder after years protesting his innocence, is now on trial again for murder. The people who helped him win his freedom have talked about how prison saw Tony brutalised, and hooked on heroin. His release saw him eventually spiral out of control until he was isolated and addicted to hard drugs. This tale should highlight the struggle that continues for exonerees after their release, the very least the government can do is financially compensate these individuals. See Tony Poole’s sad story here…
Tony Poole given little support after release for wrongful murder conviction, it is claimed
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