having waited so many years, you can leave the court a free man. hollywood actor kevin spacey is found not guilty on sexual assault charges. we will be live at the court in southwark. we have a special report from yemen where 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance after eight years of brutal civil war. president biden�*s son, hunter appears in court in the united states to plead guilty to tax offences. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. let's start with a breaking news in the last few minutes, a man who has spent 17 years in prison for a rape in england that he did not commit has had his conviction formerly overturned by the court of appeal.

andy malkinson had been fighting since 2003 to clear his name. papers disclosed in court today show that the originaljury was misled about the originaljury was misled about the honesty of the key witness in the honesty of the key witness in the dna of another man has been found on the victim's clothing. this is the moment that andy malkinson land that has conviction had been overturned. mr land that has conviction had been overturned-— land that has conviction had been overturned. mr malkinson, having waited so many _ overturned. mr malkinson, having waited so many years _ overturned. mr malkinson, having waited so many years you - overturned. mr malkinson, having waited so many years you will - overturned. mr malkinson, having i waited so many years you will leave the court a free man.— the court a free man. there it is. one sentence — the court a free man. there it is. one sentence ending _ the court a free man. there it is. one sentence ending 17 - the court a free man. there it is. one sentence ending 17 years - the court a free man. there it is. one sentence ending 17 years in | 0ne sentence ending 17 years in prison. let's go to a reporter who has been following this case. every detail of this case is absolutely astonishing, isn't it? it detail of this case is absolutely astonishing, isn't it?— detail of this case is absolutely astonishing, isn't it? it really is. it has been _ astonishing, isn't it? it really is. it has been picked _ astonishing, isn't it? it really is. it has been picked over- astonishing, isn't it? it really is. it has been picked over in - astonishing, isn't it? it really is. it has been picked over in quite| it has been picked over in quite some detail since first thing this morning as well. as you said, this is two decades that andrew malkinson

is two decades that andrew malkinson is been waiting for this. to hear the injustices that he had been suffering, almost 20 years ago and the consequences of that that he has been living ever since. as you had there, he spent 17 years behind bars for a crime that he did not commit and today, the court of appeals as we had there overturned that conviction. we are expecting to hear from him shortly so we may have to cut away at some point to hear that reaction from outside the court of appeal sometime in the next hour or so. in 2004, mr malkinson, just to remind you of the case, he was jailed for life after being found guilty of raping a mother of two, urn assault in greater manchester and england back in 2003. that was donein and england back in 2003. that was done in a majority verdict at the time, not all thejury done in a majority verdict at the time, not all the jury could agree

even back in 2004. that andrew malkinson always denied committing the crime. he said it was a case of mistaken identity, even as he was found guilty, some 20 years ago, he shouted i am an innocent man and he stuck to that right to the end to this appeal being quashed today. the important details that we also heard was the honour that he felt that he had to show, despite having a minimum term injail in seven years he actually stayed in ten more years because he refused to go on rehabilitation courses where he would have to confess to a crime. he said he would not confess to a crime that he did not commit. he had to stay injailforan that he did not commit. he had to stay injailfor an extra that he did not commit. he had to stay in jail for an extra ten years as a consequence. his convictions were referred to the court of appeal following new dna evidence. we had about the advances in science have led to that which is now linked to the crime to another man. that dna was found on the national dna

database, greater national police have confirmed that they have arrested another man in connection with the case who has now been released pending further investigations. andrew malkinson's legal team has said that no dna was ever a match for andrew malkinson. the court has heard that this was an historic case. in the court has heard that this was an historic case-— historic case. in terms of that new dna match. _ historic case. in terms of that new dna match, when _ historic case. in terms of that new dna match, when did _ historic case. in terms of that new dna match, when did that - historic case. in terms of that new. dna match, when did that happen? because at every stage there seems to have been missed opportunities to actually find out the real truth. yes, cumulative failures i think it was described as in court. and his legal team certainly said that there were several missed opportunities for the criminal case's review commission to correct a wrongful conviction. if wejust commission to correct a wrongful conviction. if we just go to some of the things that we heard in court through the course of today. that previously undisclosed evidence showed that the jury were misled into taking the honesty of two witnesses for granted when they were not honest. 0ne

witnesses for granted when they were not honest. one was described as being arrested the same day and was a heroin addict. that was never disclosed previously. so it was not possible for mr malkinson to have a fair trial when the jury did not have this key information about some of the witnesses that had come forward. it was also said that mr malkinson was arrested on a hunch from greater manchester police after they saw him on a mo pad and they followed up on that. it was put that there were these accumulative failures across the board. thank you very much- — failures across the board. thank you very much- i — failures across the board. thank you very much- ijust — failures across the board. thank you very much. i just want _ failures across the board. thank you very much. i just want to _ failures across the board. thank you very much. i just want to show - failures across the board. thank you very much. i just want to show you i very much. i just want to show you the pictures once again from outside of the court, just to the left of where our reporter, francis, was talking to us. as soon as andrew malkinson comes out, we are told that the charity appeal who has worked with them for so long will be also making a statement and his mum will be talking to reporters, perhaps another indication in detail ofjust the huge enormous impact it has had both on andrew malkinson and

the rest of the family. as soon as there is movement there, we will turn to the court of appeal. in the last hour a jury at a court in london has found the hollywood actor kevin spacey not guilty on all counts of committing sexual offences against four men between 2001 and 2013. the allegations which covered over a decade over four men. the allegations which covered over a decade overfour men. kevin the allegations which covered over a decade over four men. kevin spacey speaking outside thanked the jury saying that he was humbled and described the allegations as malice. iimagine i imagine that many of you can understand that there is a lot for me to process after what has just happened today. but i would like to say that i am enormously grateful to the jury. say that i am enormously grateful to thejury. the having taken say that i am enormously grateful to the jury. the having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before

they reach their decision. and i am humbled by the outcome today. i also want to thank the staff inside this courthouse the security and all of those who took care of us every single day my legal team for being here every day. and that is all i have to say for the moment. thank you very much. let's go live now to graham satchell who is at southwark crown court. you can clearly hear the emotion in his voice that cleared of all the charges that he has faced there. that's right. i think this has been a gruelling trial for everyone involved. it has lasted a month and we have heard quite explicit, sexually explicit evidence from four men who have made the most serious

allegations, really, of sexual assault against kevin spacey. he denied them all the way through and said that the men were lying or that they were in consensual relationships with him and after more than 12 hours of deliberation, today, thejury had more than 12 hours of deliberation, today, the jury had found more than 12 hours of deliberation, today, thejury had found him not guilty and he walks away from her in london a free man. my colleague has the background to this case. 0scar oscar winner, american beauty, star, house of cards lead and jury decided, an innocent man. for all the awards and acclaim, this could be kevin spacey�*s most satisfying moment. for more than three weeks, the actor returning to england as he said he would defend himself listened as allegations are made at southwark crown court that he was a sexual bully who had assaulted men. he called the case we can said the men were after money or lying or in one case, hejust men were after money or lying or in

one case, he just missed achingly made a pass and the jury agreed with him. during the trial he had the support of high profile friends including sir eltonjohn and his husband david who had given evidence in his defence. the actor had faced a civil trial in separate sexual assault allegations in america, last yearjury there has also dismissed those claims. yearjury there has also dismissed those claims-— those claims. they say we get the leaders we _ those claims. they say we get the leaders we deserve... _ those claims. they say we get the leaders we deserve... in - those claims. they say we get the leaders we deserve... in court - those claims. they say we get the leaders we deserve... in court in l leaders we deserve... in court in london, leaders we deserve... in court in london. the _ leaders we deserve... in court in london, the house _ leaders we deserve... in court in london, the house of _ leaders we deserve... in court in london, the house of cards - leaders we deserve... in court in | london, the house of cards actor wept as he described how the allegations had exploded his world causing his work to dry up. most of the allegations took place when kevin spacey was artistic director at the old vic. even though he has been cleared of criminal allegations there were questions about his time there. there wasn't in investigation

in 2017, 20 members of staff came forward, most of them were men. it forward, most of them were men. if the forward, most of them were men. it the weirdest thing. i feel like i have been in a coma for 20 years. the star leaves the court in england free man, able to resume a career that reach the highest levels. well, just before this trial started, mr spacey gave an interview to german media where he said that he wanted to rehabilitate his career, that he was determined to clear his name and it will be interesting to see what happens now that he has been found not guilty today. i have got with me the international correspondence a variety magazine, you have been here for most of this trial, have a new? yes i have. for most of this trial, have a new? yes i have-— for most of this trial, have a new? yes i have. ., , ., ., ., yes i have. tell me what you made of a seech yes i have. tell me what you made of a speech on — yes i have. tell me what you made of a speech on the _ yes i have. tell me what you made of a speech on the stairs. _ yes i have. tell me what you made of a speech on the stairs. it _ yes i have. tell me what you made of a speech on the stairs. it has - yes i have. tell me what you made of a speech on the stairs. it has been i a speech on the stairs. it has been very emotional _ a speech on the stairs. it has been very emotional for _ a speech on the stairs. it has been very emotional for him, _ a speech on the stairs. it has been very emotional for him, a - a speech on the stairs. it has been very emotional for him, a very - very emotional for him, a very difficult manner half. of course it

is hard to tell. he is an excellent actor and it is hard to know how much is the man and how much is the actor. . , , actor. that is been intriguing throu . h actor. that is been intriguing through the _ actor. that is been intriguing through the whole _ actor. that is been intriguing through the whole of- actor. that is been intriguing through the whole of this - actor. that is been intriguing. through the whole of this case because he gave evidence for two days himself, disney, in the dock? —— didn't he, in the dock? can you separate the man from the actor? he: talked about the impact that all these allegations have had on him over the last six years that he has been running out of money and fighting a lot of cases over the last six years. clearly it has been very difficult but these were also very difficult but these were also very serious allegation so it was very serious allegation so it was very clear that the jury would have had to weigh up those two things. people dropped him like a stone, didn't they, in 2017? he was supposed to be filming and doing the next house of cards, a massive production for netflix. do you think he has a future now? it is production for netflix. do you think he has a future now?— he has a future now? it is very difficult to _ he has a future now? it is very difficult to tell. _ he has a future now? it is very difficult to tell. he _ he has a future now? it is very difficult to tell. he has - he has a future now? it is very difficult to tell. he has worked he has a future now? it is very i difficult to tell. he has worked a little bit in the last six years. mostly in europe where apparently there seems to be more openness to

quote cancelled men. he has done italian film in a british film, actually. which is being held until the outcome of this trial. he has picked up a little bit of work that i think the big question will be whether he can pick that back up in america, in his homeland. what whether he can pick that back up in america, in his homeland.- america, in his homeland. what is our cut america, in his homeland. what is your gut feeling — america, in his homeland. what is your gut feeling about _ america, in his homeland. what is your gut feeling about that, - america, in his homeland. what is your gut feeling about that, do - america, in his homeland. what is| your gut feeling about that, do you have one? i your gut feeling about that, do you have one? ., �* ., , ., ., have one? i don't actually. to have a not guilty — have one? i don't actually. to have a not guilty verdict _ have one? i don't actually. to have a not guilty verdict today _ have one? i don't actually. to have a not guilty verdict today is - have one? i don't actually. to have a not guilty verdict today is a - have one? i don't actually. to have a not guilty verdict today is a huge | a not guilty verdict today is a huge win. of course, whether that will persuade the court of public opinion is another matter.— is another matter. yes, 'ust briefly althou:h is another matter. yes, 'ust briefly although he — is another matter. yes, 'ust briefly although he hash is another matter. yes, 'ust briefly although he has been _ is another matter. yes, just briefly although he has been cleared, - is another matter. yes, just briefly i although he has been cleared, these allegations of hung around like a bad smell. they are not only been caught, they have been made by other men that he has worked with like at the old vic. so it is hard to see him getting back to where he was before. . , him getting back to where he was before. ., , ., , ., before. certainly. he was at the heihht before. certainly. he was at the heiuht of before. certainly. he was at the height of his — before. certainly. he was at the height of his career _ before. certainly. he was at the height of his career when - before. certainly. he was at the height of his career when he - before. certainly. he was at the - height of his career when he started this and i think that is going to be a long road. in the interim, i imagine he will try and pick up work where he is being welcomed with open

arms. that is probably going to be europe. arms. that is probably going to be euroe. . ~ arms. that is probably going to be euroe. ., ~ i. arms. that is probably going to be euroe. ., ~' ,, , arms. that is probably going to be euroe. . ~ ,, , . europe. thank you very much indeed. this has been — europe. thank you very much indeed. this has been a _ europe. thank you very much indeed. this has been a trial _ europe. thank you very much indeed. this has been a trial in _ europe. thank you very much indeed. this has been a trial in which - europe. thank you very much indeed. this has been a trial in which we - this has been a trial in which we have had explicit and serious allegations against the hollywood a—list and a remarkable actor kevin spacey who leaves court today a free man found not guilty of sexual offence charges. graham is other at southwark crown court, thank you very much. around the world and across the uk, you are watching bbc news. let's do with a few stories making headlines here in the uk. a public consultation into the uk. a public consultation into the proposed closure of hundreds of where a way to has been extended until september. the extension was confirmed by the rail delivery group and train companies have faced legal challenges over the process with the concerns that closures will affect disabled people. the body representing train firms is defending the plans. junior doctors in england are to stage a four—day

strike in august, it is their fifth such strike in the ongoing dispute. the walk—out begins on the 11th of august, the british medical association is asking the a pay rise after a series of low inflation pay increases. the government has offered 6% this year plus £1250 in cash. police officers in england will no longer respond to concerns about mental health is there a risk to life or a crime being committed. the government says the policy could save 1 the government says the policy could save1 million hours of the government says the policy could save 1 million hours of police time each year. but mental health charities have expressed concern over the changes. you are live with bbc news. let me take you live outside the court of appeal. because andrew malkinson just coming out having had that decision, his conviction overturned, quashed. lets but the microphones up. he isjust about to speak. apologies that the picture has frozen. i think is just

starting to speak. 0h picture has frozen. i think is just starting to speak. oh will at least put the microphone into you can hear what you're saying. i put the microphone into you can hear what you're saying.— what you're saying. i came to the olice what you're saying. i came to the police station _ what you're saying. i came to the police station in _ what you're saying. i came to the police station in 2003, _ what you're saying. i came to the police station in 2003, i - what you're saying. i came to the police station in 2003, i told - what you're saying. i came to the police station in 2003, i told the | police station in 2003, i told the officers that i was innocent. they didn't believe me. i came to the crane, in manchester in 2004 i told the jury i was innocent. they didn't believe me. i came to this appeal court in 2006 and told them i was innocent, they didn't believe me. i applied to the criminal cases review commission, which is supposed to investigate and told them i was innocent. they didn't investigate and they didn't believe me. not once but twice. today we told this court that i was innocent and finally,

they listened. but i have been innocent all along, for each of those 20 years that came before today nothing any police officer or commission said about me since 2003 change that. you are here to gather news. that declaration from the bench in there behind me is not news to me. when a jury finds you guilty when you are innocent, realities and does not change. you know you did not commit the crime. but all the people around you start living in a false fantasy universe and treat you as if you are guilty. the police, prison officers, probation,

prisoners, journalists, judges. as a minority of one, you are forced to live there false fantasy. 0n the 2nd of august 2003, i was kidnapped by the state. it is taken nearly 20 years to persuade my kidnappers to let me go. 17 years, four months and 16 days of that time was spent in prison. i sat before a panel that shook their heads at me, considering me dangerous, all that time the real perpetrator, the real dangerous person was free. more recently, i was allowed to leave prison but with my name on the sex offenders

prisoner and under tight supervision by police, i was not free. now i finally been exonerated, i am left outside court without an apology, without an expiration, jobless. homeless. expected to simply slip back into the world with no acknowledgement of the gaping black hole that they opened up in my life. a black hole that loom so large behind me that i fear it will swallow me up. that black hole is hard for a person who is never slept behind bars to conceive. people convicted of rape are the lowest of the low. i did not commit the crime but i was treated as if i did. i spent 17 years on my guard against every threat. 17 years counting down

the minutes to lock up so i could be behind my door and say from other prisoners. but not say from my own mind —— not to say from my own mind. imaginingi mind —— not to say from my own mind. imagining i would die there perhaps murdered by a fellow prisoner. 0r left to die by hypoglycaemia in my cell in the night. 0r being driven insane by the system and dying at my own hand. somehow i lived. told every day that i was a liar, i sought the complicated truth of science and mathematics through the open university. told every day i was a violent monster, i saw tiny respite through buddhism and meditation. told that i was in denial about my offending behaviour, i read everything i could about a justice system that was in denial about its mistakes. since i was

arrested in 2003, the police, the prison system and probation service has been calling me a liar because i deny that i committed the crime. they claimed i was in denial and made me serve an extra ten more years in prison because i would not make a false confession. i am not a liar. i am make a false confession. i am not a liar. iam not make a false confession. i am not a liar. i am not in denial. but i will tell you who is, greater manchester police are liars. and they are in denial. even after thisjudgment denial. even after this judgment today, denial. even after thisjudgment today, i predict we will see them deny responsibility for what happened. we will see them stretching credulity with their

excuse making. greater manchester police have been scrambling to cover up police have been scrambling to cover up how the wrongfully convicted me for 20 years. rather than investigating the multiple reasons that were given by the public, they made a horribly traumatised woman look at a line—up with me and it even though i didn't match the description she was —— had given of her attacker. they exploited a hopeless heroin addict and his girlfriend, both with dishonesty convictions, having them tell the jury convictions, having them tell the jury that they had identified me. they unlawfully withheld crucial evidence that would have helped my defence. 0nce evidence that would have helped my defence. once i began appealing, the police unlawfully destroyed the victor in's clothing —— the victim's clothing that i was demanding being attested, notjust once but three

times. all this time, the person he really did this horrific crime has been a large. this means it is not just me who has been denied justice it is the victim. as this is my only chance to say something to her, please allow me to address her directly. sitting on micelle i used to rack my brains as to how you could say that you were so sure it was me when i knew it was not. i read all i could and learnt about how fought with risk the process of line—up identification is when someone has been subjected to trauma. i wondered someone has been subjected to trauma. iwondered if someone has been subjected to trauma. i wondered if the police helped you to pick me. since my release i have had the privilege of being introduced to an american woman called jennifer thompson, a

rape survivor who was caught up in a wrongful conviction and she has helped me at least begin to try and understand what you went through that night and what it is been like for you since. i am so sorry that you were attacked and brutalised that night by that man. i am not the person who attacked you. but what happened to me is not yourfault. i am so sorry if my fight for the truth, as i know it to be, has caused you extra trauma. i am so sorry that the system has let you down. it let both down. there are no winners in a wrongful conviction case with the exception of the real perpetrator. everyone gets failed when the original victim to the wrongfully convicted person. i

sincerely hope that you are receiving the support that you need and the apology from the police that you deserve. thank you. ida you deserve. thank you. no questions- _ you deserve. thank you. no questions. well, _ you deserve. thank you. no questions. well, an - you deserve. thank you. no - questions. well, an extraordinary owerful questions. well, an extraordinary powerful statement _ questions. well, an extraordinary powerful statement there - questions. well, an extraordinary powerful statement there from i questions. well, an extraordinary - powerful statement there from andrew malkinson and he is surrounded by the team that support him. i malkinson and he is surrounded by the team that support him.- the team that support him. i have alwa s the team that support him. i have always known _ the team that support him. i have always known he _ the team that support him. i have always known he did _ the team that support him. i have always known he did not - the team that support him. i have always known he did not do - the team that support him. i have always known he did not do this i always known he did not do this horrible — always known he did not do this horrible crime. the first time i got to talk_ horrible crime. the first time i got to talk to — horrible crime. the first time i got to talk to him after his arrest he said, _ to talk to him after his arrest he said. when_ to talk to him after his arrest he said, when they test the dna they will know— said, when they test the dna they will know that i innocent. and he has been — will know that i innocent. and he has been saying same thing ever since _ has been saying same thing ever since for— has been saying same thing ever since. for nearly 20 years people have _ since. for nearly 20 years people have just — since. for nearly 20 years people have just assumed that i was just a loyal— have just assumed that i was just a loyal and _ have just assumed that i was just a loyal and deluded mother in denial aboul— loyal and deluded mother in denial about what my son was capable of doing _ about what my son was capable of doing i_ about what my son was capable of doing. i knew the system had got it wrong _ doing. i knew the system had got it wrong but _ doing. i knew the system had got it wrong but it seem like there was nothing — wrong but it seem like there was nothing that i could do about it. as

a mother, — nothing that i could do about it. as a mother, not being able to help your— a mother, not being able to help your child — a mother, not being able to help your child when they are in desperate need is the most painful experience you can have. when andy was convicted in two 2004, to me it was convicted in two 2004, to me it wasiust_ was convicted in two 2004, to me it was just like — was convicted in two 2004, to me it wasjust like someone had pushed me into an _ wasjust like someone had pushed me into an abyss and i was just falling _ into an abyss and i was just falling. no one could hear me crying out for— falling. no one could hear me crying out for help, i couldn't see the bottom — out for help, i couldn't see the bottom of— out for help, i couldn't see the bottom of this abyss it was just black — bottom of this abyss it was just black no — bottom of this abyss it was just black. no one was listening to me. i was enamoured shock, i lost my voice _ was enamoured shock, i lost my voice i— was enamoured shock, i lost my voice. i couldn't speak. —— was enamoured shock, i lost my voice. icouldn't speak. —— in was enamoured shock, i lost my voice. i couldn't speak. —— in so much _ voice. i couldn't speak. —— in so much shockm _ voice. i couldn't speak. -- in so much shock. . ._ much shock... this is andrew malkinson's _ much shock... this is andrew malkinson's mother's - much shock... this is andrew i malkinson's mother's statement much shock... this is andrew - malkinson's mother's statement being read out. and that was the people at the law charity— and that was the people at the law charity appeal. it was them who saved _ charity appeal. it was them who saved my— charity appeal. it was them who saved my son, not this court or the

commission— saved my son, not this court or the commission or the system. and now his name _ commission or the system. and now his name has— commission or the system. and now his name has been cleared, suddenly in the _ his name has been cleared, suddenly in the public— his name has been cleared, suddenly in the public eye, i am no longer a deluded _ in the public eye, i am no longer a deluded mother, my son is no longer a monsten _ deluded mother, my son is no longer a monster. what has been done to him cannot— a monster. what has been done to him cannot be _ a monster. what has been done to him cannot be undone. the damage will be with him _ cannot be undone. the damage will be with him for— cannot be undone. the damage will be with him for the rest of his life. and the — with him for the rest of his life. and the woman who got attacked has been denied justice just as my son was _ been denied justice just as my son was like — been denied justice just as my son was. like any parent would, what i want _ was. like any parent would, what i want for— was. like any parent would, what i want for andy is a full accounting of how— want for andy is a full accounting of how this — want for andy is a full accounting of how this happened and for the people _ of how this happened and for the people responsible for my son's wrongful— people responsible for my son's wrongful conviction to be brought to justice _ wrongful conviction to be brought to justice alongside the man responsible for this brutal attack. finally for me, i end the solicitor representing andrew malkinson and the director of the law practice in charity appeal. this case represents a double injustice that must never

be repeated. let's be absolutely clear about what has happened here. greater manchester police caused an innocent man to be wrongfully imprisoned for over 17 years. they then withheld crucial evidence, denying him a fair trial and unlawfully destroying key exhibits. nearly denying him the dna test results that have established his innocence beyond any doubt today. greater manchester police also utterly let down the victim of this brutal crime. their deeply flawed investigation failed to bring to justice a real attacker, compromising public safety in the process. the public deserves better. the police must face full accountability for their actions. we of course welcome today's ruling, overturning this conviction but the question that should trouble everyone is why did it take nearly 20 years to get here. the truth is

that this case, and in's case is an indictment of both the court and appeal and the criminal case. these so call safety net in ourjustice system missed three earlier opportunities to put this obvious miscarriage ofjustice right. faced with compelling dna evidence, proving andy's evidence, the court of appeal had no choice today but are finely throughout the conviction. they are considering the other issues in the case that relate to the disclosure failures by greater manchester police and will a judgment of those in the near future. our message to parliamentarians is this, reform these institutions. make them transparent, make them accountable. force them to apologise and learn lessons from this case. 0therwise force them to apologise and learn lessons from this case. otherwise we will see more wrongful convictions, more trauma and more justice denied.

it is not enough to just say, learn lessons. we must have a zero tolerance for any future wrongful convictions. this is an event that should never be repeated. the people standing here is a small legal charity. we spent thousands of hours on this case and most of those hours were spent byjames who is on this case and most of those hours were spent by james who is andy's investigator. 0nly were spent by james who is andy's investigator. only a tiny fraction of that work was funded by legal aid. we commissioned dna testing, interviewed witnesses, took the police to court twice to get disclosure of the evidence that we have had today. we were only able to do this work with the support of our generous supporters. i want to especially thank all those who have donated their time or their money to appeal our charity. you donated their time or their money to appeal our charity-— appeal our charity. you are watching bbc news. appeal our charity. you are watching bbc news- the _ appeal our charity. you are watching bbc news. the legal— appeal our charity. you are watching bbc news. the legal team - appeal our charity. you are watching bbc news. the legal team for - appeal our charity. you are watching bbc news. the legal team for the i bbc news. the legal team for the charity that works for so long with andrew malkinson, the man who has had his conviction for rape

overturned, quashed today after spending 17 years in prison. we are now going to take a couple of questions, james and i, but not andy, and it will be doing a full interview later. any questions, please feel free. —— andy will be doing. the conversation regime in this country is completely backward, you are required to prove your innocence the regime in order to be compensated. it will be years before andy receives anything in that regard and they will say actually i consider compensation in this context to be a dirty word. you cannot compensate andy for what he has been through. how much would you have to be paid to spent 17 years in prison for a conviction like this? you would not do it, there is no amount of money that could compensate andy malkinson for what he has been through, so let's not call it compensation better support to rebuild his shattered life.