Paul Quinn has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for the 2003 rape in Salford for which Andrew Malkinson was wrongly convicted and spent 17 years behind bars. Malkinson, who was exonerated in 2023, described the sentence as an 'insult' and called it 'soft'.
The attack took place in July 2003 when Quinn raped a woman and left her for dead. Malkinson was arrested, convicted in 2005 and served 17 years before his conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal. The wrongful conviction is considered one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history.
“Paul Quinn jailed for 24 years for 2003 rape that sent Andrew Malkinson to prison for 17 years. Malkinson calls sentence an 'insult'.”
Quinn was identified through DNA evidence after a cold-case review. He was found guilty of rape and other offences at Manchester Crown Court. The judge handed down a 24-year sentence, which Malkinson said does not reflect the severity of the crime or the harm caused.
The case has raised questions about the criminal justice system's handling of forensic evidence and appeals. Malkinson has campaigned for reforms since his release.
'What This Means For You' – The case highlights ongoing concerns about miscarriages of justice and the importance of DNA evidence in overturning wrongful convictions. It may influence future appeals and calls for independent reviews of historic cases.