Wrongly Convicted Database Record

 

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Eamonn Charles Coughlan

 

Charge:

Arson and Attempted Fraud

Sentence:

3 yrs and 6 months

Years Imprisoned:

0.75

Year Crime:

2015

Year Convicted:

2018

Year Cleared:

2020

U.S. State or Country of Crime:

Australia

County or Region of Crime:

Queensland

City of Crime:

Brisbane

Result:

Judicially Exonerated

Summary of Case:

"Eamonn Charles Coughlan was wrongly convicted on June 6, 2018 of arson and attempted fraud in the destruction of his home in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. After Eamonn Coughlan was convicted by a jury in the Brisbane District Court of arson for causing the destruction, and attempted fraud for making a claim for the destruction from his insurance policy, Eamonn's sentencing was stayed pending the outcome of his appeal of his conviction. He was allowed to remain free on bail. The Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Queensland affirmed Coughlan's convictions and sentence on April 16, 2019. On July 8, 2019 Coughlan was sentenced to 3 years 6 months in prison, and he was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence. Australia's High Court granted Coughlan leave to appeal, and on February 12, 2020 quashed his conviction and ordered his acquittal. Coughlan was released from prison the day of the Court's ruling -- Wednesday, February 12. On April 24, 2020 the High Court published its reasons for its Orders was there was insufficient evidence to prove Coughlan's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."

Conviction Caused By:

Innocence Proved By:

"Australia's High Court granted Coughlan leave to appeal, and on February 12, 2020 quashed his conviction and ordered his acquittal. On April 24, 2020 the High Court published its reasons for its Orders was there was insufficient evidence to prove Coughlan's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

Was Perpetrator Identified?

Age When Imprisoned:

51

Age When Released:

52

Sex:

Skin/Ethnicity:

White

Information Source 1:

"Coughlan v The Queen [2020] HCA 15 (Feb 12. 2020 quashed convictions and ordered judgment of acquittal. April 24, 2020 published reasons for those orders.)"

Information Location 1:

https://cdn.hcourt.gov.au/assets/publications/judgment-summaries/2020/hca-15-2020-04-24.pdf

Information Source 2:

R v Coughlan [2019] QCA 65 (Queensland Court of Appeal) (Affirming convictions and sentence)

Information Location 2:

https://archive.sclqld.org.au/qjudgment/2019/QCA19-065.pdf

Information Source 3:

"Former London cop acquitted of blowing up his Queensland home, By Christine Flatley, Brisbane Times, February 13, 2020"

Information Location 3:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj7h5GR9f_oAhWLQs0KHbzjC-cQFjABegQICxAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brisbanetimes.com.au%2Fnational%2Fqueensland%2Fformer-london-cop-acquitted-of-blowing-up-his-queensland-home-20200213-p540fj.html&usg=AOvVaw17NvrLFzE23dO9ZHMiKvUF

Information Source 4:

"Ex-London cop jailed for arson, fraud in Queensland, By Warren Barnsley, Brisbane Times, July 8, 2019"

Information Location 4:

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/ex-london-cop-jailed-for-arson-fraud-in-queensland-20190708-p5258u.html

Information Source 5:

Information Location 5:

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Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org

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