The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has referred the murder convictions of three young black men to the court of appeal, citing new evidence that undermines the prosecution's 'gang narrative'. Durrell Goodall, Reano Walters and Trey Wilson were convicted in 2017 under the joint enterprise doctrine for the murder of Abdulwahab Hafidah in Moss Side, Manchester.
The CCRC said on Wednesday that fresh evidence casts doubt on the claim that the men were members of a gang called Active Only (AO). The prosecution had used a rap music video and mobile phone images to argue gang membership, but the CCRC noted the video was recorded at a publicly funded youth centre where rap was encouraged as a constructive activity.
Lawyers for the men argued in their 2023 application that the 'gang narrative' was based on racist stereotypes and that the convictions resulted from institutional racism by police, prosecutors and the judge. The CCRC is still considering a similar application from a fourth man, Nathaniel Williams, who was 17 at the time of his conviction.
Joint enterprise law holds all participants in a violent incident equally guilty if they intentionally encouraged or assisted serious violence. Critics say black boys and young men are disproportionately portrayed as gang members in such cases. Lucy Powell, the local MP, supported the CCRC application, saying gang narratives are 'more effectively deployed against young black men from places like Moss Side'.
The CCRC chair, Dame Vera Baird KC, said the referral highlights the need for safeguards against unfairness from 'a too readily adopted gang narrative'. The court of appeal will now consider whether the convictions are unsafe.
