May backers seek meeting with Clarke

Susan May . . . fighting to clear her name

SUPPORTERS of Susan May are hoping to have a meeting with Justice Secretary Ken Clarke in their fight to clear her name.

More than 60 people attended a debate in a committee room at the House of Commons organised by the Friends of Susan May.

The group supports the Royton grandmother who was convicted of murdering her elderly aunt, Hilda Marchbank, in 1993. She has always maintained she is innocent, despite serving 12 years in prison.

Two appeals to clear her name have failed and the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)has refused her a third and closed its files on her.

Expert speakers, along with Susan May, addressed the debate on Tuesday, which questioned whether the CCRC is fit for purpose. It was chaired by John McDonnell, the MP for Hayes and Harlington .

Other speakers were Henry Blaxland QC, the vice-chairman of the Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association, Dr Michael Naughton, senior lecturer at Bristol University and founder of Innocent Network UK, and author and journalist Bob Woffinden.

Back home in Dogford Road, Royton, Susan May said: “John McDonnell wants MPs to meet Kenneth Clarke, to meet the Home Affairs Committee, to have an adjournment debate and to get MPs to meet the CCRC to discuss why they have refused a third chance to appeal.

“We heard that the CCRC is on the list of Government quangos which are being reviewed. When the CCRC was founded it had 11 commissioners, two have recently retired and not been replaced.

“A lot of the arguments put were that the CCRC is not well funded and now has no expert witnesses because of cuts, and any changes will put us in an even worse position.

“But it was a very positive meeting and I appreciate everyone for going.”