Killer is first to be freed from jail after change in ‘gang murder’ law

The Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that the law on joint enterprise had been wrongly interpreted for 30 years
The Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that the law on joint enterprise had been wrongly interpreted for 30 years
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/GETTY IMAGES

A man has been released from prison after becoming the first person to have a joint enterprise murder conviction quashed following a landmark ruling in the Supreme Court.

The court declared in 2016 that the law on joint enterprise — often used to convict defendants who were present in gang-related killings — had been wrongly interpreted for 30 years.

The law had led to many convictions of people who were present at a killing but did not strike the fatal blow. It was thought that dozens of prisoners would mount a challenge but few have.

In the first successful challenge to a murder conviction, John Crilly was freed yesterday after serving 13 years in prison. He was given a life sentence for murder and robbery