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Wrongful Convictions Quashed: Stockwell Six and Another Victim Exonerated

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Ronald De Souza and Errol Campbell's cases of wrongful conviction have been upheld, bringing an end to a half-century of torment for the two men. De Souza was part of the so-called Stockwell Six, a group accused of attempting to rob corrupt and racist police officer Derek Ridgewell in 1972. Campbell, a former British Rail worker, had his conviction for theft and conspiracy to steal overturned posthumously at the High Court on Thursday.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ronald De Souza, part of the Stockwell Six, had his conviction quashed after a 50-year battle, with Lord Justice Holroyde stating that De Souza "bore the burden of his wrongful conviction throughout his adult life."
  • De Souza's co-defendants, including Paul Green, Courtney Harriot, Cleveland Davidson, and Texo Johnson, had their convictions quashed in 2021.
  • The sixth member of the Stockwell Six, Everet Mullins, was acquitted due to inadequate reading abilities.
  • Errol Campbell, a former British Rail worker, had his conviction overturned posthumously after being convicted in 1977 for theft and conspiracy to steal from the Bricklayers Arms Goods Depot.
  • Campbell's son, Errol Campbell Jr, stated that the family had suffered greatly due to the conviction, leading to his father's flight from the country and addiction.
  • Justice Butcher, sitting with Lord Justice Holroyde, stated that the court could not undo Campbell's suffering but quashed his conviction, expressing hope that it would bring comfort to Campbell's surviving family.
  • Detectives Douglas Ellis and Alan Keeling, along with Ridgewell, pleaded guilty to stealing from the same goods depot in 1980.
  • Campbell's conviction was quashed after an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which found there was a real possibility of quashing the conviction.

Statistics:

  • 1972: The year De Souza was arrested with five friends by Derek Ridgewell.
  • 1977: The year Errol Campbell was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment.
  • 1980: The year Ridgewell, Ellis, and Keeling pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal from the Bricklayers' Arms Depot.
  • 2021: The year De Souza's co-defendants had their convictions quashed.
  • August 2023: The CCRC referred the convictions of Saliah Mehmet and Basil Peterkin, Campbell's co-defendants.
  • January 2024: The convictions of Saliah Mehmet and Basil Peterkin were quashed.
  • September 2024: Campbell's son submitted an application to the CCRC with the help of the charity APPEAL.
  • February 2025: The CCRC referred Campbell's conviction.
  • £364,000: The value of the goods stolen from the depot between January 1977 and April 1978.

Sources:

  • Byline: Tom Pettifor
  • [Source 1] A man wrongfully convicted of the attempted robbery of a corrupt and racist detective more than 50 years ago has finally been cleared.
  • [Source 2] The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)
  • [Source 3] The High Court

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