Judge appointed to chair Andrew Malkinson miscarriage of justice public inquiry

A judge has been appointed to chair a public inquiry set to examine the circumstances and handling of the Andrew Malkinson miscarriage of justice case, it was revealed today.

Mr Malkinson, now 57, spent 17 years behind bars for a rape that he didn't commit. He had always denied carrying out the violent attack on a woman by the M61 motorway in Little Hulton, Salford, in July of 2003.

But in 2004, he was found guilty by a jury and jailed for life, with a minimum term of seven years. Mr Malkinson remained in prison for a further 10 years after maintaining his innocence, despite no DNA evidence linking him to the crime.

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His case was referred to the Court of Appeal in January by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, after new DNA evidence was discovered. Then, in July, three top judges sitting at the Court of Appeal quashed his rape conviction 20 years later.

It was confirmed today Her Honour Judge Sarah Munro KC has been appointed as chair for the Inquiry, which the Government said will look at the actions of police, prosecutors and the appeals review body in relation to the case.

A statement said: "The inquiry will investigate the handling and role of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in Mr Malkinson's conviction and subsequent appeal to ensure lessons are learned from the significant miscarriage of justice he suffered.

"All agencies have pledged their full co-operation to the inquiry. Mr Malkinson met with