Hope to Die

Ms Rowan has tried to appeal against sentence and conviction but was unsuccessful. After the broadcast of the television series Infamous in March 2016, South Mercia Police decided to reopen the case, with particular reference to specific allegations made in that programme. The most significant of these concerned a possible suspect who, it was alleged, had not been properly investigated at the time of the original investigation. South Mercia Police conducted a full inquiry into the claims made in the programme, the results of which were submitted to the Commission. Following a detailed review of this material, the CCRC does not consider that this so-called new suspect took any part in the crime, nor that there is any other new evidence or legal argument capable of raising a real possibility that the Court of Appeal might quash the original conviction. For that reason, the conviction cannot be referred for appeal.

The Commission’s analysis of the case and its reasons for the decision are set out in detail in a 64-page document called a Statement of Reasons, which has been sent to Ms Rowan’s representatives. Statutory restrictions on disclosure mean that the Commission cannot make its Statement of Reasons public. There are no such restrictions on Ms Rowan or her representatives. Indeed, the CCRC invites them to consider publishing the document, or making it available on request, in order that anyone following the case can understand the CCRC’s review and the reasons for the decision not to refer this conviction for appeal. A number of issues relating to the case have already been discussed in public and in the media.

The Commission’s role in relation to alleged miscarriages of justice involves applying the ‘real possibility test’ set out in Section 13 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. It says the Commission can only refer a case to the relevant appeal court if the Commission considers that there is a real possibility that the conviction, verdict or sentence would not be upheld were the reference to be made.

– ends –

* * *

As the room starts to clear, Hansen takes the opportunity to catch Gislingham.

‘I know things have moved on a bit, Sarge, but for the record that contact of mine at the Express didn’t have anything useful. Doesn’t sound like there’s been anyone poking about in the Rowan case, which I guess bolsters our theory that the vic wasn’t a journo after all.’

Gis gives him a quick smile and a light tap on the shoulder. ‘But useful to know all the same. Good work.’

Gis turns to Baxter, who’s pinning stills from the Oxford station footage to the whiteboard. ‘Where are we with CCTV on the train?’

Baxter shakes his head. ‘Nothing useful. We eventually ID’d him on the train but all he did the whole way was look at his phone. BTP also managed to track him down at Marylebone buying a ticket, but he paid cash, unfortunately. Other than that, all we know for sure right now is that he didn’t come from the Tube. Which is a pain as it would’ve been by far the easiest to track. So now we’re stuck with needle-in-a-haystack stuff with buses and taxis. But Hansen’s on it, aren’t you, Hansen?’

Hansen nods. ‘I’m liaising with the Met. But it’s going to be slow-going.’

‘There was something else too,’ says Baxter. ‘Apparently there was a problem with the train the vic was on and it was over an hour late. So he’d clearly intended to get here a lot earlier.’

Gis considers. ‘Not sure how significant that is – apart from the fact that it meant it was much darker by the time he turned up at Wytham.’

‘And the Swanns would have been a lot more spooked,’ says Ev, looking up from her desk, ‘assuming, of course, that they weren’t expecting him.’

‘You said he didn’t come from the Tube,’ says Bradley Carter, ‘but what about adjacent streets – couldn’t he have arrived on foot?’

Gis glances across at him. ‘It’s a pretty pricey area round there. He didn’t look that well-heeled to me.’

‘He might not have lived there,’ says Carter, ‘there are loads of hotels around the station. And some of those are pretty basic.’

Gis nods. ‘OK. Good point. Why don’t you pick up on that?’

Carter looks like all his Christmases have come at once; Gis, on the other hand, may be secretly rather relieved to pack him off to London for a while.

‘What about the backpack and the other stuff?’ he says now, looking round the rest of the team. ‘I’m finding it hard to believe we can’t find any of it.’

‘Me too,’ says Ev. ‘But Barnetson’s a good copper. If he says they did a thorough search, then they did a thorough search.’

Baxter makes a grim face. ‘Maybe the Swanns have a nuclear bunker in their garden.’ People start laughing and he glances round. ‘Hey, it’s not that outlandish – stranger things have happened.’

‘Talking of the Swanns,’ says Ev, holding up her phone and nodding to Gis, ‘Mrs S has arrived downstairs.’

* * *

Adam Fawley

24 October

10.35