28: Trial by Jury

It's seen by many as a cornerstone of British justice, but there are plans to restrict jury trials in England and Wales to only the most serious of crimes such as rape or murder.

It's because of a huge backlog in the courts, with many defendants waiting years for their cases to be heard.

In this episode top barristers Chris Daw KC and Keir Monteith KC discuss what impact this could have on justice.

Justice Secretary David Lammy says the reforms are "bold" but "necessary", with the Conservatives describing the plans as the "beginning of the end of jury trials".

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

27: Conviction Quashed - The City Trader's story

In this podcast you'll hear an emotional interview with Tom Hayes - a city trader who was fighting to clear his name for a decade.

He was jailed in 2015 for manipulating so-called Libor interest rates, used for loans between banks. He spent five-and-a-half years behind bars.

In July 2025 the Supreme Court quashed his conviction and now he is free to restart his life.

This episode was sponsored by Fieldfisher - an international law firm, with a strong Global Investigations team. Their team boasts experienced specialist criminal investigations lawyers, who handle serious and complex economic crime cases. They have represented both companies and individuals facing some of the most significant criminal enforcement actions of the past decade, with a proven track record of successfully and fearlessly defending their client’s interests, and achieving justice.

https://www.fieldfisher.com/en

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

26: Seven Prisons

Oliver Campbell spent 30 years trying to clear his name after being wrongly convicted of murder.

He spent more than a decade in seven different prisons for a crime he didn't commit.

In this podcast you'll hear how Oliver suffered a brain injury when he was a baby - which affected his memory and meant he was vulnerable to manipulation.

His legal team said a confession at the time was made amid the immense stress of 14 interviews by police… and the evidence against him didn't add up.

Hear from Oliver himself and the people who helped clear his name.

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

25: A Leading Role

Toby Jones is a well known British actor. One of his more recent roles was playing Alan Bates - the lead campaigner for victims of the Post Office Scandal - where thousands of sub-postmasters were wrongly blamed for financial losses on the computer system.

In this episode you'll hear from Toby about why he took the role - and why he thinks the programme, Alan Bates Vs The Post Office, had such an impact.  

Toby was born in London to a family of actors. He grew up in Oxford but went on to study drama at The Victoria University of Manchester, graduating in 1989.

He received a University Outstanding Alumni Award from Manchester in 2012 and became an Honorary Professor of Drama at Manchester in 2017.

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

24: The Falsely Accused Football Star

Brian Banks was a high school football star on track to make the NFL - until he was falsely accused of rape.

He spent over five years in prison and served five years on parole - until his accuser was secretly recorded admitting the truth.

Brian’s comeback story - including finally playing in the NFL - was turned into a Hollywood movie.

He is interviewed by Brady Haran in this episode.

Brian Banks website - https://brianbanksfree.com/

Brian Banks (movie) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Banks_(film)

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

23: The Godfather of Innocence

Barry Scheck might be best known for being part of OJ Simpson's winning defence team.

But his work as the godfather of The Innocence Project has had worldwide impact for thousands of people who have been wrongly convicted.

He changed the way that DNA was used to prosecute and prove innocence.

Now he’s devoting much of this time to looking at the ways AI can be a force for good, and bad, in the courtroom.

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

22: Art Not Evidence

Would you ever have thought that the music you listen to could be used to convict you of a crime?

The organisation Art Not Evidence wants to stop the use of creative and artistic expression as evidence in criminal trials.

In this episode we hear from two people involved in that campaign - Kier Monteith KC and Elli Brazill.

Both Keir and Elli believe there has been an alarming increase in rap music being used to convict people. They say police and prosecutors even use listening to rap music, posting videos, or writing lyrics to suggest a motive for carrying out crime.

Art Not Evidence: https://artnotevidence.org

This episode of The Innocence Podcast was supported by Fieldfisher - a European law firm with market-leading practices in technology, financial services, energy & natural resources, and life sciences - https://www.fieldfisher.com/

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

21: The Smells of Freedom

Dean Gillispie served 20 years in prison for rape and kidnap - crimes he didn't commit.

It was Mark Godsey at the Ohio Innocence Project who helped free him.

Dean and Mark talk to Kylie about the case, the hurdles they encountered, and the impact 20 years behind bars.

Dean was recently awarded $45m in compensation - but has he seen that money?

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

20: Joint Enterprise

Dr Felicity Gerry is a star of the legal profession. She saved a woman in the Philippines moments before she was due to be executed and helped free a man wrongly convicted of murder in Australia.

Dr Gerry’s main passion is challenging the law around joint enterprise - where someone can be jointly convicted of the crime of another.

She persuaded the UK Supreme Court this can only be if someone intends to join in - not if they merely foresaw that the other person might commit a crime. 

Dr Gerry says thousands are still in prison for murders they were not involved in.

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

19: Another Level of Ridiculousness

Nurse Kimberley Long was 27 when she found the body of her boyfriend Ozzy in their living room - he’d been brutally murdered.

She was sent to prison in California for a crime she didn't commit.

When The Innocence Project's Justin Brooks heard about her case, he knew she was innocent. There was no blood splatter on her clothing and the victim's time of death didn't match up to where Kim was.

Although she’s innocent, Kim says she continues to pay the price for her wrongful conviction and is still trying to get back into nursing.

But she is eternally grateful to Justin - the man who proved her innocence.

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

18: The 'Scapegoat' Banker

Tom Hayes says he'll never give up fighting to clear his name.

The former banker was sentenced to 11 years for fixing key interest rates.  Tom claims he was a “scapegoat” - a target for the anger at bankers in the financial crisis. 

He has now been granted permission to appeal against his criminal conviction at the UK’s top court.

Tom talks to Kylie about how he went from living a lavish lifestyle… to losing his marriage and now living in his parents’ flat.

Fighting the case has become his full-time job.

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

17: The San Antonio Four

Anna Vasquez was one of the so called 'San Antonio Four' - four women who were wrongly convicted in 1994 of the sexual assault of two young girls.

It came in the wake of more than a decade of hysteria over claims of satanic abuse of children.

After the Innocence Project became involved, and uncovered new information, Anna was finally released in 2012.

In an emotional interview, Anna talks to Kylie about how she has now dedicated her life to helping to free others. 

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

16: Fighting for the Sub-Postmasters

If you’ve seen any of the Post Office Inquiry that’s currently taking place in the UK, you will have heard Edward Henry KC and Flora Page. They are two of the legal team fighting for those wrongly convicted in what’s been described as the biggest miscarriage of justice in the UK.

Hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly accused of stealing money, when in fact a faulty computer system was to blame.

On a day when the inquiry was taking a break, Kylie spoke to them, along with journalist Nick Wallis who has doggedly pursued this story for those whose lives have been destroyed.

Learn more at: https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk and https://www.postofficescandal.uk/about/

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

15: Pregnant and Jailed - another victim of the Post Office Scandal

Seema Misra was two months pregnant when she was sent to prison for a crime she didn't commit.

She was one of hundreds of sub postmasters wrongly accused of stealing money from the Post Office - when, in fact, a faulty computer system was to blame.

She tells Kylie about how things started to go wrong from Day 1 of owning her Post Office.

She also emotionally speaks about the toll it took on her health, her husband and, most importantly, her son.

Learn more at: https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk and https://www.postofficescandal.uk/about/

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

14: Bankrupt but Innocent - a victim of the Post Office Scandal

Lee Castleton was made bankrupt by a two-year legal battle with the Post Office to clear his name.

Twenty years later he’s still looking for answers.

Lee, who bought his Post Office in 2003, was wrongly accused of stealing money. In reality a faulty computer system was to blame.

The ordeal severely affected his family's health. In an emotional interview, Lee explains the toll it has taken - and how his life will never be the same again.

Learn more at: https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk and https://www.postofficescandal.uk/about/

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

13: Acquitted - but at what cost?

Brian Buckle was sentenced to 15 years for historic child sex abuse - a crime he didn’t commit. It took him five years in prison and hundreds of thousands of pounds to prove his innocence. 

Brian may now be out of jail, but his fight for compensation continues. We hear from Brian and his wife about how a wrongful conviction ruined their lives.

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Producer: Lucy McDaid

Editor: Kris McConnachie

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

12: Pursuing a Killer

Former detective superintendent Julie MacKay has dedicated her career to putting the right people behind bars.

She solved the murder of Melanie Road, more than three decades after it happened.

Julie knows first-hand how groundbreaking technological developments in policing can help track down criminals - but does that always mean the right people get caught?

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Producer: Lucy McDaid

Editor: Kris McConnachie

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

11: The Fight for Compensation

Every week Mark Newby gets letters from people desperate for his help. Those people are behind bars, they say they are innocent and have no way of proving it.

They need a criminal appeal lawyer to take on their case - and that's where Mark comes in. But he must choose who he is going to fight for.

In this episode Mark talks about how he decides what case to pursue. He says he has to be tough - the resources aren't there to help everyone. And then when he starts working on a case, it can take years, even decades, to be freed.

Then when they are lucky enough to be released, the wrongfully convicted get less help than those who are guilty and who have served their time.

Then their chance of getting ANY compensation is minimal. Mark is fighting to change that.

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Producer: Lucy McDaid

Editor: Kris McConnachie

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

10: Failures in the Justice System

Why does it take so long for someone to prove their innocence?  

Criminal defence solicitor and former head of the legal charity, APPEAL, Suzanne Gower explains why there are so many people in prison now who are not guilty.  

Suzanne talks about her own experience of trying to free people who are wrongly behind bars.

She talks about why the justice system fails them and how urgent changes need to be made.

She has helped free numerous high profile people including Andrew Malkinson who was freed from prison after he served 17 years for a wrongful rape conviction.

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Producer: Lucy McDaid

Editor: Kris McConnachie

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub

9: Wrongful Convictions in the Spotlight

The issue of wrongful convictions has taken centre stage in the UK.  

The high profile Post Office Horizon scandal has dominated headlines. And the case of Andrew Malkinson - who was finally cleared of rape in 2023 after spending seventeen years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit - shone a renewed spotlight on what can happen when our criminal justice system doesn’t work as it should.

Claire McGourlay runs the Manchester Innocence Project.  In this podcast Claire looks back at all the things that went wrong to lead to the wrongful conviction of Andrew Malkinson.

She explains why his case is so important in the pursuit of innocence for those wrongly jailed.

The Innocence Podcast is brought to you by The Manchester Innocence Project - https://bit.ly/34YbLTi

Presenter/Researcher: Kylie Pentelow

Producer: Lucy McDaid

Editor: Kris McConnachie

Executive Producer: Claire McGourlay

Donate to the Manchester Innocence Project - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-innocence-project-justice-hub