The primary Publish Workplace Seize conviction has now been formally referred to the Courtroom of Attraction, marking a serious milestone within the IT scandal.
The Felony Instances Overview Fee (CCRC) made the choice to refer the case of sub-postmistress Patricia Owen again in July.
Mrs Owen was convicted of theft by a jury in 1998, based mostly on proof from the defective IT software program Seize.
She was given a suspended jail sentence and fought to clear her identify afterwards – however died in 2003.
Seize software program was utilized in 2,500 branches between 1992 and 1999.
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The primary Seize conviction was despatched for attraction in July
It’s the first time a conviction based mostly on Seize – the predecessor to the Horizon system on the centre of the broader Publish Workplace scandal – has reached the Courtroom of Attraction.
An investigation discovered the Publish Workplace knew in regards to the report on the time and continued to prosecute sub-postmasters based mostly on Seize proof.
Mrs Owen’s household submitted an utility to the CCRC in January 2024 – her case has now been referred on the grounds that her prosecution was an “abuse of process”.
A ‘touchstone case’ for victims
Legal professionals have mentioned that if Mrs Owen is exonerated posthumously within the Courtroom of Attraction, it might “speed up” the dealing with of others.
The CCRC can be persevering with to analyze greater than 30 different “pre-Horizon” convictions.
Juliet Shardlow, Mrs Owen’s daughter, has been combating to clear her mom’s identify for years.
“This has been a very long journey for us as a family and we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel,” she mentioned.
“It is simply unhappy that mum is not right here to see it.
The Publish Workplace has beforehand mentioned it’s “determined that past wrongs are put right and continue to support the government’s work in this area as well as fully co-operate with the Criminal Cases Review Commission”.
