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Wrongly Convicted Database Record
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Charge: |
Assault (Including Battery) |
Sentence: |
150 hours of community service |
Years Imprisoned: |
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Year Crime: |
2013 |
Year Convicted: |
2014 |
Year Cleared: |
2014 |
U.S. State or Country of Crime: |
United Kingdom |
County or Region of Crime: |
England |
City of Crime: |
Hanging Heaton |
Result: |
Judicially Exonerated |
Summary of Case: |
"Danny Lockwood was wrongly convicted of assaulting a man in April 2013 outside the Fox and Hounds Pub in Hanging Heaton, Yorkshire, England. Lockwood, The publisher of the Press newspaper, got into an altercation with a man who followed him outside the pub, and who was critical of the newspapers content. Lockwood and the other man both suffered minor injuries, and Lockwood's defense was he felt threatened and acted in self-defense. After Lockwood's conviction in January 2014 in the Kirklees Magistrates' Court. During Lockwood's sentencing hearing on February 25, 2014 he declined to give a statement mitigating his sentence, simply stating, "Obviously I don’t agree with the decision of the court but I have to accept that." Magistrate Keith Wilson then sentenced Lockwood to serve 150 hours of community service, and he was ordered to pay £680 in court costs and fees, and £250 restitution to the alleged victim. Lockwood represented himself during his trial, but he retained counsel to handle his appeal. On June 13, 2014 a three-judge panel of the Leeds Crown Court quashed Lockwood's conviction on the basis the prosecution introduced insufficient evidence he intended to assault the other man. Judge James Spencer stated the burden of proof was on the prosecution, and "It is not for the appellant to prove he was acting in self defence. In all the circumstances... we feel that it is entirely reasonable for him to have perceived to have been in danger. And therefore his reaction was reasonable and lawful."" |
Conviction Caused By: |
Judge improperly shifted the burden of proof to Danny Lockwood to prove he acted in self-defense. |
Innocence Proved By: |
"On June 13, 2014 a three-judge panel of the Leeds Crown Court quashed Lockwood's conviction on the basis the prosecution introduced insufficient evidence he intended to assault the other man." |
Defendant Aided By: |
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Compensation Awarded: |
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Was Perpetrator Identified? |
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Age When Imprisoned: |
55 |
Age When Released: |
55 |
Sex: |
Male |
Skin/Ethnicity: |
White |
Information Source 1: |
"Press publisher Danny Lockwood’s assault conviction quashed, By Staff writer, Wakefield Express, June 13, 2014" |
Information Location 1: |
http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/press-publisher-danny-lockwood-s-assault-conviction-quashed-1-6672319 |
Information Source 2: |
"Press publisher Danny Lockwood sentenced for assault, By Staff writers, Morley Observer & Advertiser, February 25, 2014" |
Information Location 2: |
http://www.morleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/press-publisher-danny-lockwood-sentenced-for-assault-1-6462148 |
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Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org