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The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has referred a man’s robbery conviction to the Court of Appeal because new forensic evidence identifying a potential alternative suspect raises a real possibility of the conviction being overturned.

Mr HZ was convicted in the Crown Court in 2018 and received a sentence of 16 years’ imprisonment. Leave to appeal against conviction was dismissed by both the Single Judge and the Full Court.  

The case concerned allegations of conspiracy to commit robbery. During the police investigation, evidential swabs were taken from the crime scene and were subject to DNA testing in an attempt to identify the perpetrator(s) but this did not lead to an identification.  

In 2025, following an application from Mr HZ, the CCRC had the swabs re-tested, and the resulting profiles compared to a number of individuals. The new DNA evidence points away from Mr HZ and towards a potential alternative suspect.

This new forensic evidence is supported by information from the Police National Computer and contemporary photographic evidence which undermines significant aspects of the case made by the prosecution at trial. The CCRC has therefore concluded that there is a real possibility Mr HZ’s convictions will not be upheld. 

Notes to Editors: 

1. Due to the identification of a potential alternative suspect which may lead to a prosecution, this release has been anonymised. Full details of the forensic work commissioned by the CCRC, the results obtained, and the associated analysis and reasons, are confidential.  
2. The CCRC is an independent body set up under the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. It is responsible for independently reviewing suspected and alleged miscarriages of criminal justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is based in Birmingham and is funded by the Ministry of Justice.     
3. There are currently ten Commissioners who bring to the CCRC considerable experience from a wide variety of backgrounds. Commissioners are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Prime Minister in accordance with the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice.   
4. The CCRC usually receives around 1,600 applications for reviews (convictions and/or sentences) each year. Since starting work in 1997, the CCRC has referred around 3% of applications to the appeal courts.     
5. The CCRC considers whether, as a result of new evidence or argument, there is a real possibility that the conviction would not be upheld were a reference to be made. New evidence or argument is argument or evidence which has not been raised during the trial or on appeal.  Applicants should usually have appealed first. A case can be referred in the absence of new evidence or argument or an earlier appeal only if there are “exceptional circumstances”.          
6. If a conviction is referred to the Crown Court it is for the Court to decide whether to uphold the conviction. 
7. More details about the role and work of the Criminal Cases Review Commission can be found at www.ccrc.gov.uk. The CCRC can be found on X, Facebook, Instagram (@the_ccrc) and Linkedin.