In a radical departure from its practice since 1901, White & Case, one of the largest corporate law firms in the world has taken up its first ever pro bono, miscarriage of justice case in its London office. The case is of Gary Critchley who has already served 9 years in prison, from 1981 to 1990, convicted of brutally hammering a man to death in 1980.
Today, even 22 years after his release from prison, Gary fights on to clear his name from a case in which he had steadfastly pleaded not-guilty. Gary was convicted as a minor and sent behind the bars at Her Majesty’s Pleasure, the juvenile court made a recommendation that he should serve ‘no more than nine years.’ After losing multiple appeals and refusal from the Criminal Cases Review Commission he turned to others for help. The Miscarriages of Justice Organization and The Innocence Project UK have taken up his cause. White & Case has stepped in, breaking its own tradition.
Lawyer Rory Hishon, 33, from White & Case told the media, “What strikes us about this case is that the evidence used to convict Gary in 1981 was only circumstantial … Firstly, the victim was hit with a hammer 27 times and was completely drained of blood.” Yet no blood had been found on Gary. “It was argued at the time that the blood had been washed off Gary because he had spent some time lying in the rain, but simple common sense tells us thins needs more investigation,” added Hishon.
The White & Case said, “Secondly, we know that other individuals were seen walking into the flat before the murder, but this witness testimony was never heard at the trial … We need to find this testimony and find these witnesses …If they can prove that other people were on the scene that night, apart from Gary, we will be well on the way to taking his case back to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.”
White & Case has launched a pro bono investigation and are expecting to secure forensic items, including hair and blood samples from the scene, as well as the lead piping alleged to have been used for the killing.
White & Case LLP was founded in New York in 1901 and has been a leader in corporate and international law practice. It has 38 offices in 26 countries across the world.