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The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the murder conviction of Alan Traynor to the Court of Appeal. Mr Traynor was charged with the murder of Amanda Chapman in Preston in February 1993. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted in February 1994 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Mr Traynor applied for leave to appeal against his conviction but leave was refused. He first applied to the Commission in September 1998 but his case was closed without referral in February
2002.

He applied again in July 2005 and the Commission carried out a detailed review of the conviction for a second time but again closed the case without referral. In September 2010 the Administrative Court granted Mr Traynor leave to seek judicial review of the Commission's decision not to refer his case to the Court of Appeal. In response, the Commission agreed to convene a new decision-making committee which subsequently considered the case again and decided to refer the conviction.

The basis for the referral is that fresh evidence giving rise to argument about an alternative suspect raises a real possibility that the court will decide the conviction is unsafe.

Mr Traynor is represented Correna Platt of Stephensons Solicitors, 10-14 Library Street, Wigan, WN1 1NN. DX 19319 Wigan.

This press release was issued by Justin Hawkins, Head of Communication, Criminal Cases Review Commission, on 0121 633 1806 or e-mail
press@ccrc.gov.uk


NOTES TO EDITORS

1.      The Criminal Cases Review Commission is an independent body set up under the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. It is responsible for 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.

2.      There are nine Commissioners who bring to the Commission considerable experience from a wide variety of backgrounds. Commissioners are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister in accordance with the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice.

3.      The Commission receives around 1,000 applications for reviews (convictions and/or sentences) each year.  Typically, around 4%, or one in 25, of all applications are referred to the appeal courts.

4.      The Commission 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".

5.      If a case is referred, it is then for the appeal court to decide whether the conviction is unsafe or the sentence unfair.