Appeals

[Padgates staff]

How many appeals are won on the 2nd, 3rd or 3+ attempt?
I know the appeal success for the first but I wondered how the numbers stacked up on the others and also what evidence turned the decision round when the 1st appeal was lost. I'm just thinking that I'd really want to have one appeal and send everything I had the first time rather then having to continually wait, submit and then wait (but obviously it happens to people).

[John]

How many appeals are won on the 2nd, 3rd or 3+ attempt?
I know the appeal success for the first but I wondered how the numbers stacked up on the others and also what evidence turned the decision round when the 1st appeal was lost. I'm just thinking that I'd really want to have one appeal and send everything I had the first time rather then having to continually wait, submit and then wait (but obviously it happens to people).

It varies so much that it is hard to tell [Name removed]o.  When one is attempting to overturn a conviction there is so much to be considered.  At the outset the financial implications usually determine how much investigation can be carried out.  Lawyers do very little investigating and farm this work out to investigators or experts.  I have found that most lawyers spend their time on prisons visits, court time and writing letters.  All these activities bring in lucrative rewards for the budding lawyer.

When I instructed my Counsel to interview new witnesses in my case he came back with the unbelievable remark to the effect that courts don't like to see too many witnesses.  It was alright apparently for the Crown to have 20 witnesses but for the defence to have one...ME.

If the first appeal fails then it is back to the drawing board and the need to pursue other avenues thus the longer a case goes on the more in depth investigation is carried out.  Just look at Jeremy Bamber after 27 years still plodding through paperwork in he hope of turning something significant up!

[Padgates staff]

The people at the miscarriages day said to do most of the work yourself, collecting info, files, new info and such likes and pass it on because the lawyers do so little, often because they get paid a fee, regardless of how much (or little) they do. When I gave all the info onto a friend whose son is doing life, i thought she might faint. I don't know how further forward she is with it, she wanted to do a website, I've no idea whatsoever on how to do that but did warn her that she'd spend most of the time ridding spammers and trolls, so I don't think she bothered.

[John]

The people at the miscarriages day said to do most of the work yourself, collecting info, files, new info and such likes and pass it on because the lawyers do so little, often because they get paid a fee, regardless of how much (or little) they do. When I gave all the info onto a friend whose son is doing life, i thought she might faint. I don't know how further forward she is with it, she wanted to do a website, I've no idea whatsoever on how to do that but did warn her that she'd spend most of the time ridding spammers and trolls, so I don't think she bothered.

You have to get stuck in or employ a private investigator or detective to do it.  This is where the CPS have you at a disadvantage.  They have a virtually unlimited budget to work with and can call on resources such as police and forensic science and other experts at a whim.  The poor defendant has to contend with some stuck up lawyer saying that legal aid would never sanction such things.  Talk about a fair and level playing field?