Jan launch for Cardiff Innocence Project

Students at Cardiff Law School will be working with prisoners and solicitors to investigate possible miscarriages of justice.

Julie Price, solicitor and lecturer at Cardiff University, will run the Innocence Project, which allows students to reinvestigate cases where doubts have been raised over the validity of convictions.

The project was first launched at Bristol University in January this year by lecturer in law Dr Michael Naughton.The Bristol group has already had contact with Barry George, the man convicted of murdering Crime-watch presenter Jill Dando.

Similar schemes have also been launched at Leeds and Manchester universities.

Naughton has received 136 letters this year from prisoners maintaining their innocence. He said: "We want to raise awareness of the issue and encourage the Innocence Project in the UK."

Students will spend time interviewing prisoners, re-examining evidence and talking to witnesses. Questions that will be discussed include why the prisoners themselves think they have been convicted of the crime, and if there is any fresh evidence to be considered.

Students will work alongside solicitors from Bristolbased law firm Kelcey & Hall.

The official launch of the project in Cardiff will be January 2006.