Medical

Rape case referred to appeal court over 'flawed' expert evidence

The Court of Appeal is to look again at the conviction of a man on charges of rape and indecent assault after an investigation revealed possible flaws in the medical evidence presented at Trial.

The man, identified as F and who cannot be named for legal reasons because he was under 18 at the time, was convicted in 1997 and sentenced to three years in a youth offender institution. He was also ordered to register his name and address with Police for an indefinite period.

He appealed and his sentence was cut to two years detention and a five year limit placed on his requirement to register.

Now, the Criminal Cases Review Commission, using its powers of referral, has obtained fresh medical expert evidence that suggests that the original specialist testimony was flawed and that there is a realistic possibility that the Court will quash his conviction