Dear Tony Blair
Graham Huckerby
It was with interest I noted your meeting with Gerry Conlon of the Guildford 4. You are to be complimented on your actions.
However, I would like to draw your attention the above named who is my brother. He has just won his appeal at the Court of Appeal, after a long hard campaign fought on his behalf. In July 1995, Graham was the innocent victim in Britain's largest cash in transit robbery. His van was relieved of over £4 million by masked armed gunmen. He was manhandled off the van, handcuffed, gagged and hung on railings. On August 11 1999 the police in their infinite wisdom decided that he was the "inside man", and had accepted a "sweetener" of £1,000 in order to do this. After two trials he was found guilty of "conspiracy to commit armed robbery" and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.
At his appeal it was successfully argued that Graham was in fact suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and has been since 1994 when he witnessed a colleague being stabbed and hit over the head with a hammer. None of this information went before the jury which the court of appeal decided could have quite easily affected their decision, so consequently his conviction was considered unsafe, and granted.
On December 22 2004 Graham was released from prison after serving 2 years 7 months of his sentence.
What exists as after care for these people who are victims of Miscarriages of Justice? Graham was just thrust back out into society, with no help or counselling etc. Graham has had to suffer this indignity of knowing that he is innocent since 1999, and has had the worry and trauma of this since then. He is totally lost and bewildered by what has happened to him. Who will employ him? No-one has ever said that they are sorry. Prisoners who have served their time and admit their guilt are helped and prepared for rehabilitation back into society, not so if you are innocent.
Graham desperately needs help from a specialist in post traumatic stress but, surprise surprise, we have to pay for his services! - where is the justice in that? - when it is our so called justice system that has created this situation!
I would be grateful for your views and comments, and look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Susan Kelly