New blow in Andrew Adams' battle for compensation

Nov 28 2009 The Journal

WRONGLY convicted Andrew Adams spent 14 years in jail for a murder he says he did not commit.

But yesterday he lost his battle for more than £1m compensation at the Court of Appeal.

But the judges involved in the case agreed to hold a further hearing next week to give Mr Adams’ lawyers the chance to apply to take the case to the Supreme Court.

Former aircraft engineer Mr Adams, 39, of Newcastle, said: “We now want to take the case to the Supreme Court.

“I have always maintained my innocence and I deserve compensation because I lost my business, properties and life when I was jailed for a murder I did not commit.”

Mr Adams had his 1993 conviction for Alfred “Jack” Royal’s murder quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2007, because his trial lawyers let him down after it emerged that evidence had been missed by his original defence team, which meant he didn’t get a fair trial. He walked free from court but then faced a mammoth legal battle for compensation.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said he was not entitled to any compensation because he could not show his conviction was overturned because of “new or newly discovered” facts or that he is, beyond reasonable doubt, the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

The Department’s stance was upheld at the High Court in February this year, but Mr Adams challenged that ruling at the Court of Appeal in London.

But yesterday Lord Justice Waller, Lord Justice Dyson and Lord Justice Lloyd gave their ruling on the case.