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Wrongly Convicted Database Record
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Charge: |
Murder (Conspiracy to commit murder) |
Sentence: |
Life Imprisonment with 18 year minimum |
Years Imprisoned: |
6.25 |
Year Crime: |
2008 |
Year Convicted: |
2009 |
Year Cleared: |
2015 |
U.S. State or Country of Crime: |
United Kingdom |
County or Region of Crime: |
England |
City of Crime: |
Leeds |
Result: |
Judicially Exonerated (Not released due to other charges.) |
Summary of Case: |
"Dennis Slade, Richard Pearman and Michael Baxter were codefendants wrongly convicted in August 2009 of conspiracy to commit murder 2008 in Leeds, England, in addition to charges of criminal damage, arson and handling stolen goods. After their conviction by a jury Leeds Crown Court Judge Paul Hoffmanhe sentenced all three to life in prison, with Slade not eligible for parole until after serving 19 years and 206-and-a-half days, while Pearman and Baxter not eligible for parole until serving 17 years, 206-and-a-half days. In February 2015 the Court of Appeals reversed the convictions of the three and ordered a retrial. In November 2015 the trial judge directed the jury to acquit the three defendants of all charges after the prosecution discontinued its case after presenting evidence for a week during their retrial. The prosecutor told the judge, "“We have conducted such a review in this case and have concluded that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. Accordingly, we offer no further evidence.” The three defendants were cleared of conspiracy to commit murder, criminal damage, arson and handling stolen goods. The three defendants remained in prison, but could be released in early 2018 for 2010 convictions of the robbery of a transit van in Warrington on March 8 2006, the robbery of a Cross Gates Post Office in Leeds on December 12 2007, and conspiracy to rob a cash delivery van at a Sainsbury’s in Colton Leeds." |
Conviction Caused By: |
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Innocence Proved By: |
"In November 2015 the trial judge directed the jury to acquit the three defendants of all charges after the prosecution discontinued its case after presenting evidence for a week during their retrial. The prosecutor told the judge, "“We have conducted such a review in this case and have concluded that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. Accordingly, we offer no further evidence.” The three defendants were cleared of conspiracy to commit murder, criminal damage, arson and handling stolen goods." |
Defendant Aided By: |
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Compensation Awarded: |
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Was Perpetrator Identified? |
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Age When Imprisoned: |
33 |
Age When Released: |
39 |
Sex: |
Male |
Skin/Ethnicity: |
White |
Information Source 1: |
"‘Premier League’ Leeds crooks could be out in three years after murder plot trial collapses, By Staff, , Yorkshire Evening Post, November 19, 2015" |
Information Location 1: |
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/premier-league-leeds-crooks-could-be-out-in-three-years-after-murder-plot-trial-collapses-1-7580059 |
Information Source 2: |
"Hardcore' Leeds gang jailed for life, By Staff writer, BBC News, February 12, 2010" |
Information Location 2: |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_yorkshire/8513040.stm |
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Comments About Case: |
Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org