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ajehals@lemmy.ml

Post Office scandal. Why a new law? (piefed.social)

submitted 9 months ago by 007@piefed.social to c/unitedkingdom@lemmy.ml

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I am but a simple person. Someone please explain why we need a law to exonerate innocent people?

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the government will bring in a new law to "swiftly exonerate and compensate victims" of the Post Office scandal Under the plans, victims will be able to sign a form to say they are innocent in order to have their convictions overturned and claim compensation

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[–] iamnotme@beehaw.org 3 points 9 months ago

Because it is potentially the quickest way to get them cleared, and deal with compensation.

An appeals process for 800 people could take years and would most likely need a separate, dedicated, appeals court. Also, from what I've heard key evidence from the original trials may be missing so how are appeals judges supposed to proceed?

Having a pardon is also impractical because it doesn't quash the original conviction.