CAMPAIGNERS for the Tottenham Three, wrongly convicted of kiling PC Keith Blakelock during the North London riots of 1985. have announced that a date has finally been set for their appeals -25 November this year.
ine decision to nolo all infee together is a minor victory for campaigners. There was some doubt that this would be the case.
The case of the three men -Winston Siloolt, Engin Raghip and Mark Braithwaite - who were convicted solely on the basis of uncor. roborated evidence, was referred to the Court of Appeal following the emergence of new evidence. This showed that vital interview records had been tampered with, and incriminating statements added in place of innocuous reples.
A report from Essex police about the activities of Detective Chief Superindendent Graham Melvin, the officer in charge of the investigation, has been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A statement from the men's families said, • We have always known that these men are innocent, and we want it established in open court for everyone to see. The eyes of the work wil be watching what goes on in that court. They know that if there is any justice in this country, Winston, Engin and Mark wil have their convictions quashed before Christmas.
Even if the men do get out though, there will stil be many more innocent people left to rot in jail for crimes they did not commit. While the real criminals - the judges and the police - wil not, at present, be brought to Only when we have a publically accountable and instansly recallable judiciary and police force, will we be sure of being able to overtur miscamages of justice fairly and quickly.