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Man released after joint enterprise conviction quashed

The first person to have his 'joint enterprise murder' conviction overturned, after a 2016 landmark court ruling, has spoken to to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 live.

A man who is the first person to have his 'joint enterprise' murder conviction overturned after a 2016 landmark court ruling has spoken to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 live after his release.

Joint enterprise has been used to convict people in gang-related cases if defendants "could" have foreseen violent acts by their associates, even if they didn't strike the fatal blow. In a 2016 test case, Supreme Court judges said the law had been wrongly interpreted for 30 years.

John Crilly was convicted of murdering 71-year-old Augustine Maduemezia at his home in Manchester in 2005 under the joint enterprise law.

After that ruling Crilly appealed, and his murder conviction was quashed. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and has subsequently been released.

Mr Maduemezia's family said in a statement: "It was sickening to hear that he was walking away without completing his sentence for his part in the murder of our father.

"These High Court rulings which lean too favourably towards the offenders and virtually casting aside the opinions, consideration and feelings of victims and their families, help to corrode and undermine public confidence in the justice system."

This clip is originally from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 live Breakfast.

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