The fourth of seven programmes

In May 1973 two young men were convicted of arson. Each received a term of imprisonment. Two years later, on appeal, they were proclaimed innocent. This film shows how the whole system of justice miscarried by reconstructing the story as it passes through the hands of police, solicitors, barristers and the courts.

That the wrong was righted was partly due to coincidence, but mainly to the fact that one of the accused's father was a rich man, who could afford to employ an intelligent and tenacious private detective. This disturbing story comes in a year in which we have already read of Patrick Meehan, Peter Hain and George Davis.

(Next week's Inside Story, 'Queen's Pardon', examines some of the issues raised when our legal processes fail.)
Preview: page 15