Richard Hawkes & Ors. v Post Office Limited
The convictions were unsafe because they depended entirely on the reliability of the Horizon computer system, which was materially flawed, and Post Office Limited failed in its duty to investigate and disclose issues with Horizon, amounting to an abuse of process.
- Parties
- Applicant: Richard Hawkes; Applicant: Grant Ian Allen; Applicant: Jack Smith; Applicant: Duranda Clarke; Applicant: Robert John Boyle; Respondent: Post Office Limited
- Jurisdiction
- England and Wales
- Judgment Date
- 01 September 2022
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment on Appeal Against Conviction
- Outcome
- convictions quashed
- Legal Topics
- Abuse of Process, Disclosure Obligations, Unsafe Convictions, Computer Evidence, Guilty Pleas and Appeals
Case Brief
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Richard Hawkes
Applicant
Grant Ian Allen
Applicant
Jack Smith
Applicant
Duranda Clarke
Applicant
Robert John Boyle
Applicant
Post Office Limited
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment on Appeal Against Conviction
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the convictions of the applicants were unsafe due to reliance on unreliable Horizon computer evidence
- 2 Whether the prosecutions constituted an abuse of process due to failures in disclosure and investigation by Post Office Limited
Ratio Decidendi
The convictions were unsafe because they depended entirely on the reliability of the Horizon computer system, which was materially flawed, and Post Office Limited failed in its duty to investigate and disclose issues with Horizon, amounting to an abuse of process.
Court Disposition
convictions quashed
Orders
- extension of time granted
- leave to appeal granted
Full Case Text
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