AC 3.2- Draw conclusions from information. [15 marks]
JUST VERDICTS
A just verdict is lawful and proper. It gives justice to the facts of the case,
finding who is guilty and finding the innocent. Justice can be done swiftly,
however sometimes it may take years for a just verdict to be made. However,
the criminal justice system does not always achieve a just verdict.
Stephen Lawrence, a black teenager from London was stabbed and killed in a
racially motivated attack in 1993 while he was waiting for a bus with his friend,
by 5 youths. The case became a cause célèbre, and its effects included a shift in
the public's perception of racism and the police. Additionally, it resulted in the
partial lifting of the restriction on double jeopardy. In 2012, two of the
perpetrators were found guilty of murder. Sir William Macpherson examined
the original metropolitan police service investigation and concluded that the
investigation was incompetent and that the force was institutionally racist. The
mistakes made by the police where that as they arrived at the scene, Lawrence
was bleeding to death and the officers did not admit first aid and they were
also told by witnesses which way the attackers went, and this was ignored.
Nothing was done about a suspect removing a bag that looked like it contained
clothes. 18 years later 2 arrests out of the 5 were made due to heavy
campaigning. However, considering the irresponsibility of the officers, without
the heavy media anger, no arrests would have been made.
In conclusion, the police investigation meant that an unjust verdict was
reached. Failure to conduct the investigation properly meant that a deserved,
lawful and proper verdict was not reached. Due to insufficient evidence, even
after several suspects had been identified, no arrests were made. This led to
Lawrence’s parents to launch a private prosecution that eventually led to three
suspects being acquitted. The use of double jeopardy shows that in high profile
cases verdicts are not always just. The just verdict was eventually achieved by
years of campaign and the appearance and help from Nelson Mandela.
MISCARRIGES OF JUTICE
A miscarriage of justice is generally considered to be when an individual is
tried, convicted and punished for a crime they did not commit. The evidence
presented in the appeal is mostly always fresh evidence that had not been
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