Innocent man who spent 17 years behind bars leaves UK for new life abroad
An innocent man who spent 17 years behind bars for a rape he did not commit has left the UK for a new life abroad. Andrew Malkinson had his conviction quashed earlier this week after always maintaining his innocence.
He has now left the country and has hopes of becoming a Dutch citizen, The Mirror reported[1]. Mr Malkinson was found guilty by a jury of carrying out the violent attack on a woman by the M61 motorway in Little Hulton in July 2003.
The following year he was jailed for life with a minimum term of seven years, despite no DNA evidence linking him to the crime. He remained in prison for a further 10 years, after maintaining he was not guilty.
Mr Malkinson's case was eventually referred to the Court of Appeal in January by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) after new DNA evidence was discovered. On Wednesday, his conviction was overturned.
GMP apologised for the 'grave miscarriage of justice'. Earlier today, he boarded a Eurostar train from London’s St Pancras Station to Amsterdam, and said he hopes to become a Dutch national.
"It’s been a long time coming but this is the first day of the rest of my life," he said. "I was born here but I don’t identify with it and it doesn’t feel like home after what I’ve been through.
"I feel more Dutch than English and I’d like the Foreign Office to negotiate a Dutch passport. I don’t think it’s a big ask on humanitarian grounds." Mr Malkinson had been working in the country before returning to the UK in 2003.
"If I hadn’t have been arrested, I’d have been [in Holland] 23 years now and be eligible for a passport. They took everything – love, relationships, joy. I hope going to Holland will help the healing. I’ll be back with friends."
Two officers who put Mr Malkinson in the frame were commended at his original trial. But he said: "It was like a smash in the face because I knew I’d been set up.
"I want authorities held accountable. I want compensation." Mr Malkinson, who took a degree in maths and science in jail, could have been released up to 10 years earlier if he had given a false confession – but he refused to.
He said: "It almost drove me mad. I don’t think I’ll ever stop feeling angry. One life is all we have and they’ve devastated mine."
Mr Malkinson was seen off at St Pancras by his lawyer, Emily Bolton, of charity Appeal, who helped secure his release. He hugged her and said "Thank you", and she told him: "You’ve got this!" Once through passport control, he was asked for selfies by fellow Eurostar passengers.
For now, Mr Malkinson can only stay in Holland for up to 90 days, due to post-Brexit immigration rules. He also aims to visit his sisters and their kids in Australia – health permitting. Andrew, who missed out on seeing his own son grow up, has life-limiting type 1 diabetes. He said: "I’m not well. If I make 70 I’ll be doing well."
References
- ^ The Mirror reported (www.mirror.co.uk)