Blast from the past

Interesting to see that the case of Steven Ward has raised its head again (see 4/12/13).  A nephew of his has asked the Criminal Cases Review Comission, who have the power to refer "iffy" convictions to the Court Of Appeal, to look into it.  They have said they will not make a referral in this case basically because of the time which has elapsed, the fact that Ward is dead, and that important documents (not least the transcript of the judge's summing up) cannot be found.  However they did say that, if Ward had still been alive, they "may well have been minded" to make such a referral. The trial has been described as "an appalling manipulation of justice by police, politicians and judges caught up in a moral panic".  Perhaps the final word should rest with the Commission themselves  who said that the case should perhaps e considered as simply "a case of its time".