Man guilty of rape another man spent 17 years in prison for
Paul Quinn, 52, has been found guilty of a rape which Andrew Malkinson was wrongly jailed over
A man has been found guilty of a brutal rape committed near Manchester nearly two decades ago, an attack that led to the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of Andrew Malkinson.
Convicted at Manchester Crown Court, the verdict brings closure to a case that has highlighted significant flaws in the judicial system. Mr Malkinson, who was wrongly accused, spent 17 years in jail before being released and exonerated in 2020.
The defendant, Paul Quinn, 51, was arrested in 2022 after a DNA match identified him as the perpetrator of a 2003 attack on a mother-of-two walking home in the early hours of 19th July. She was violently assaulted, strangled unconscious, and twice raped near a motorway embankment.
Despite no DNA evidence linking Mr Malkinson to the crime, he was erroneously identified at an identity parade, leading to his conviction. Quinn’s guilt was later confirmed when advanced DNA testing matched his profile to samples found on the victim’s vest top.
During the trial, it was revealed that Quinn had an interest in true crime stories, including Mr Malkinson’s campaign to clear his name, further implicating the defendant.
Quinn denied the charges, suggesting inadvertent DNA transfer due to his promiscuous lifestyle, but this defence was rejected by the jury. His searches for information on wrongful convictions and how long DNA is retained by police indicated awareness and concern over his eventual capture.
The jury found Quinn guilty of two counts of rape, grievous bodily harm, and attempting to choke or strangle his victim, rejecting his protestations of innocence.
The case underscores the vital role of DNA evidence in overturning wrongful convictions, prompting discussions on reviewing judicial processes to prevent future miscarriages of justice.
Andrew Malkinson, now 60, originally from Grimsby, has been vindicated after years of appeals, highlighting the struggles individuals face when challenging wrongful convictions.
As Quinn awaits sentencing, justice appears to have been served not only for the victim but also for Mr Malkinson, who has finally been cleared of a crime he did not commit.