Chair of CCRC is labelled 'shameless' as she quits role

Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in jail for a crime he did not commit, called the former head of the miscarriage of justice watchdog "shameless" yesterday as she resigned from the job saying she had been "scapegoated for entirely legitimate decisions" taken over his case.

- Emily Dugan

Helen Pitcher resigned from the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) after learning an independent panel had concluded by a majority of two to one that she was no longer fit to chair the watchdog.

In a letter to the justice secretary, she said she felt she had been chosen as a "scapegoat at an early stage" for the Malkinson case and "a head had to roll and I was chosen for that role".

Malkinson said: "Helen Pitcher's attempt to portray herself as the victim here is shameless. I know what it truly is like to be a scapegoat.

"I agree, however, that others need to be held accountable. The CCRC's senior leadership, starting with the CEO, must also resign to pave the way for root and branch reform."

An independent review last year found that the watchdog missed multiple opportunities to help Malkinson, who spent 17 years in jail for a 2003 rape he did not commit.