Three Black men convicted of murder launch appeal stating 'institutional racism'
The Independent|May 27, 2023
Lawyers for three Black men "wrongly" convicted of murder have applied for their sentences to be reviewed, claiming they were victims of "institutional racism" within the courts
NADINE WHITE
Three Black men convicted of murder launch appeal stating 'institutional racism'

The families of Durrell Goodall, Reano Walters and Nathaniel Williams submitted an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) yesterday to clear their children's names for the 2016 murder of Abdul Hafidah, 18, in Moss Side, Manchester. The trio, who were prosecuted in 2017 under the controversial joint enterprise law, claim they were "wrongly" associated with a violent street gang named AO (Active Only) that allegedly pursued Mr Hafidah.

The application to the CCRC argues "there was no violent criminal gang by the name of AO", and that the convictions are a "gross miscarriage of justice". Only one person, 19-year-old Devonte Cantrill, stabbed Mr Hafidah, however, seven were convicted of murder, three of manslaughter, and one pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The youngest defendant was aged just 14 at the time and had learning difficulties and all of the defendants were Black or mixed-race.

This story is from the May 27, 2023 edition of The Independent.

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This story is from the May 27, 2023 edition of The Independent.

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