In 2012, Ched Evans, a footballer was imprisoned for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room. There a new evidences that surfaced so his case is being referred to the Court of Appeal.
Last October, the former Sheffield United striker was released from prison after serving half of his five-year sentence.
Evans continues to maintain his innocence even after the jury found Evans guilty because the victim, who cannot be named, was too drunk to consent to sex. However, an attempt to appeal for his conviction and sentence at the time failed.
At the time, the Lord Chief Justice said, "We can see no possible basis which would justify interfering with the verdict of the jury, which heard all the evidence and reflected on it after careful summing up by the judge."
In an attempt to revoke the conviction and clear his name, Evans' lawyers, Draycott Browne Solicitors, have put forward fresh evidence to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) and his case will now go before the Court of Appeal.
Though he's already served time,it's possible the conviction will be upheld or overturned with a retrial.
In a statement Richard Foster, chair of the CCRC said:
"The decision of the Commission is not a judgment on guilt or innocence in relation to Ched Evans, nor is it a judgment about the honesty or integrity of the victim or any other person involved in the case.
"Our role is to consider applications to see if, in our judgment, there is any basis on which to ask the court to hear a fresh appeal – that is our statutory responsibility."
This is evidently a welcome news for Evans along with his family and friends. However, for the victim, who had to change her name in an attempt to preserve her identity, this will be once again an agonizing ordeal she will have to go through.
