This is to flag up the case of Gary Critchley who is still in prison for an alleged murder at Campbell Buildings in 1980 – see recent posts on Bob Short’s Trash Can book thread for more details and also the official website and also this website.
The challenge is to get this miscarriage of justice overturned.
But how? I suggest it needs a twin track approach
Firstly to raise the public profile (as Jock has suggested) via myspace / facebook / blog sites like KYPP – for example by putting a slide show of Gary’s paintings plus a relevant soundtrack eg Raised in a Prison by the Mob on youtube or organising a UK exhibition of Gary’s paintings…
Secondly using official channels eg letters to your MP and the Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP
Home Secretary 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF.
Gary is also being supported by Wendy Thurley and Julie Coimbra.
Julie and Wendy are librarians in Cambridge and contacted KYPP about the case.
Julie said [edited]:
“Myself and another librarian have become involved in trying to publicize this extraordinary miscarriage of justice. We happened to purchase some of Gary’s paintings and began corresponding with him without ever asking why he was inside. When the Private Eye article came out in July we were flabbergasted to say the least and began our campaign. Fifty of his paintings were sent to Adelaide and were in a recent exhibition there. Prior to posting them we photographed them all and have made them into cards to sell, 12 are at present on the website.
If you have ANY INFORMATION WHATSOEVER that could be helpful could you let us know and we can pass it on to Glyn Maddocks, the solicitor who has taken up his case. Anyone who can provide ANY INFORMATION should be encouraged to contact us as soon as possible”.
Julie and Wendy have created the website from which the following bio of Gary is taken.
Finally – don’t wait for someone else to act. If you think this is important get on and do it yourself.
Biography- Gary Critchley “Raised In A Prison”.
“England is a supposed model of democracy and justice, yet ironically I have so far been made to serve longer for being rebellious and non-conformist than the Yorkshire Ripper has for 13 serial Killings. Nowadays, painting is the only thing that keeps me alive.“
Gary Critchley
Born in Birmingham and raised on an estate that bordered on two mental hospitals, visiting and often staying with his elder brother in care homes and approved schools,
Gary was introduced to institutions at a very early age. At 8 years old he got drunk on alcohol and by the age of 12 he was drinking on a regular basis. Aged 14, Gary became a punk rocker, was recruited to the Young Socialist party and excluded from school for leading ‘pupil-power’ marches and picketing the school. Also aged 14 Gary was sent to juvenile detention centre for criminal damage and theft. During his time there he was physically and mentally abused and he describes this as a very negative period of his life.
Upon release he quickly deteriorated, abusing various drugs and becoming involved with crime. In 1980, six months after being released from borstal, he moved to live in London. In June of that year he was discovered severely injured four stories below the flat he was squatting [in Campbell Buildings] and was taken to hospital with a broken back, arm, legs and head injuries. When police investigated the circumstances, they found the body of another man in Gary’s squat. Charged and bailed for this man’s murder, Gary returned to Birmingham where even on crutches he continued his life of punk rock gigs and substance abuse.
In May 1981, he was found guilty of murder (despite numerous forensic discrepancies) and sentenced to be ‘detained at Her Majesty’s Pleasure’, the juvenile equivalent of a life sentence. The then Lord Chief Justice recommended that he should serve ‘no more that 8-9 years’. Despite this it was a full 20 years before Gary was first released in July 2000.
Gary was recalled to prison three months later for having sexual relationships with two female peers at his rehab unit and running away with one of them. After another three years in prison for these breaches of his license conditions, he was again released in 2003 to another drink /drug rehab centre. Twelve months later in 2004 he was again recalled to prison for missing a probation appointment. He’s still there.
Over the last five years in prison, Gary has suffered from severe depression and made three serious attempts to take his own life. After the second attempt, Gary was introduced to drawing and painting for the first time in and has since become a prolific painter. He has won a Koestler award for one of his paintings and has been both encouraged and inspired to paint by the staff of a Cambridge University library that have bought and exhibited several of his early works and sponsor him with materials etc.
Despite unanimous recommendations of release and the parole board agreeing that he does not constitute a risk to the public, Gary was recently refused parole on the grounds that if he was ever to relapse into drink /drug use there was a “possibility” that he “could” re-offend violently. This was despite all professional opinion and the masses of evidence to the contrary where Gary has been in active addiction without any such incident.
This ruling is currently the subject of a judicial review, being in breach of not only the Human Rights Act but also several judicial rulings regarding Lifers. There are also investigations still going on into the events surrounding the index offence, of which Gary to this day has no memory.
Gary describes his on-going imprisonment as “warehousing”. He has now actually served more than three times the recommended sentence. He maintains that he never murdered anyone, never intended to hurt anyone and has never before or indeed since the age of 17 been involved in any violence. He says he is now semi-institutionalised and a true product of the system. No longer jailed in relation to the original offence, he has become somewhat of a political prisoner: being punished over and over by a retributive system for his years of rebellion and breaches of petty rules.
Gary on right with green jacket and blond spikes 1979/80 – photo courtesy of Carol Coombes.
Some of Gary’s prison artwork may be viewed HERE
http://www.justiceforgarycritchley.org
Template for contacting MP’s and other officials or media. Please cut and paste the document below onto a word document and print it out to send by post or fax.
Dear …………………..,
I am contacting you regarding Gary Critchley, prisoner no B39969 (A1473AK), convicted of murder in 1981.
The Judge at the time recommended he serve no more than 9/10 years.
This is now his 30th year of incarceration. The conviction is unsafe and according to his solicitor one of the worst miscarriages of justice Britain has ever seen.
Briefly the case is as follows, however please read the Private Eye article
(http://www.b39969.org.uk/pdf/private_eye_24July2009.pdf)
for full details.
Gary allegedly killed a man in 1980. During this murder he sustained frontal lobe damage to his brain, by being hit with a hammer. He also broke his back, ankle and wrist and was found in the street covered in blood.
The victim sustained more than 20 blows with a hammer.
The blood on Gary was found to be from his injuries and there was not one speck of the victim’s blood on him.
The victim was discovered in a room on the upper floor in the building, Gary was found outside on the pavement.
The only evidence to link Gary to the crime was a trainer, two or three sizes too small for him, on his left foot. On his right foot was his own boot which fitted him.
Gary apparently killed the victim, avoiding any blood, changed one shoe, hit himself on the head with the hammer, and then jumped out of the window.
The truth indicates that both Gary and the victim were attacked by a third party, who remains at liberty.
I feel that this really is a grave miscarriage of justice.
Unfortunately, this is not a high profile case, merely the case of an ordinary citizen who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. A person who nearly lost his life, but who ended up in prison himself, for something the forensic evidence suggests that he didn’t commit.
I am asking you to look into this, because I know if you do, you will want to take it further.
……………………………………………… Signature.
Julie
April 24, 2010 at 4:37 pmWonderful Nick.
We’ll find out regards the painting materials and post it here.
cc
April 24, 2010 at 5:46 pmhe uses acrylics: he’s just been speaking to his mom, and she was saying how lovely (you) people are..
Christine
April 24, 2010 at 8:00 pmHi Gary,
If your able to read this, its Chris, would love to get in touch with you, its been a long time since dad’s funeral. Me, Roger, Clare and Laura think the paintings are fantastic, would really love to hear from you.
Love from Chris, Roger, Clare and Laura xxxxxxxxxx
Heido
April 24, 2010 at 8:00 pmHi,
My mate Nick Hydra is getting the word out about Gary. I sent Gary a selection of art supplies today and they should be there in the week. Hope there’s no problems receiving this stuff. If there’s any bits he particularly likes I can send occasional packages.
All the best to Gary, his family and friends. It feels sad to use the word justice in Gary’s case but I hope, like you all do, that this is the year he sees a bit of it.
Heido
Julie
April 25, 2010 at 2:16 amI would like to share my accidental connection with you all.
Whilst I was living in Brasilia, back in the 70’s, I was close friends with Renato Russo.
Below is a brief bio of his music career. You can find more about him on youtube.
He was not only an accomplished and iconic songwriter but a provocative poet, artist, as is Gary.
Renato, born in Rio de Janeiro, (March 27, 1960) grew up in Brasília and would have been fifty this year, as was the new capital (April 21, 1960).
His first punk band Aborto Elétrico (Electric Abortion) was conceived during the dictatorship of Geisel/Figueiredo.
His next band Legião Urbana (Urban Legion) became the most influential rock band in Brazil in the 1980s.
All his songs are still absolutely relevant today such as:
Que Pais é esse? (What kind of country is this?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po0999ztMR8&NR=1
Suor Sagrado (Holly Sweat)
Faroeste Caboclo (See Wikipidia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faroeste_Caboclo)
Legião Urbana released 7 records, as a solo artist Renato released Equilíbrio Distante (In Italian) and Stonewall (in English).
Sadly he left us in 1996.
AL Puppy • Post Author •
April 25, 2010 at 9:59 pmPolice to release secret report on the death of Blair Peach
From Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/apr/25/blair-peach-police-release-report
Blair Peach died after being struck on the head at a demonstration against the National Front.
A highly critical report into the death of Blair Peach, the anti-fascist campaigner widely believed to have been killed by police in 1979, is expected to be published on Tuesday.
Some 2,000 pages of documents will be released, including a previously secret police report. Peach, a 33-year-old teacher from New Zealand, died after being struck on the head at a demonstration against the National Front in Southall, west London. Witnesses said they saw him being attacked by police, but after an internal investigation no officers were charged.
It is understood the report has been redacted to protect the identities of individual officers. However, most interest is expected to focus on a report by commander John Cass, the Metropolitan police officer who investigated the death.
At the April 1979 demonstration, more than 40 people, including 21 police, were injured and 300 were arrested. A pathologist report said Peach died from injuries likely to have been caused by a lead-weighted rubber cosh or hosepipe filled with lead shot. When officers’ lockers were raided, unauthorised weapons including a metal cosh were found, but this was ruled out as the weapon that killed Peach.
From The Pop Group/ Justice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBWAUmTcHs4
I wake up every day
And look at my country
This is what the blind man sees
Does it look like justice to you
It doesn’t look like justice to me
They’ve got to protect their property
Better phone up the police
Call up corruption
Who killed Blair Peach?
Who guards the guards
Who polices the police
AL Puppy • Post Author •
April 27, 2010 at 2:01 pmHere is a draft of a piece about Miscarriages of Justice/ Gary Critchley. How does it read?
http://www.scribd.com/doc/30566883/Miscarriage-of-Justice-2
Justin
April 27, 2010 at 4:04 pmJust stumbled upon this link. I saw GBH last Friday in Kettering and they were appealing for Garys release. They said that he was a friend of theirs who was wrongly convicted of murder and played `The Hunted` for him.
John no last name
April 27, 2010 at 7:33 pmNice post Justin and that’s some great info, maybe someone could organize getting an online petition together for a new trial and have GBH either announce it at shows or have their t-shirt person have it at the table. Does it make sense to add something like that to the website?
I’m sure the band would love to do it.
Cathe
April 28, 2010 at 2:52 amHi, sent Gary through amazon
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Show your bones
Horrors- Primary colours
Mint Chicks- Crazy yes dumb no
and some chocolate. Should be despatched 30th April
If anyone has other suggestions to email for people living overseas I would love to see them, I have emailed the guardian, the home office and amnesty international.
jock b
April 28, 2010 at 4:02 amplease don`t hesitate to send any suggestions to http://www.myspace.com/gbh
for what they could do to further publicize his case.i know they are putting out bulletins of this page and justiceforgarycritchley.org and on saturday night had cc,who posts on here,up on stage in birmingham giving the background of the case and what could be done to help.also waiting for some leaflets to be done that can be handed out here and there.the main thing is to email your parliamentary candidate if you live in the uk.theres a pre written letter and a form that sends emails to all your candidates on justiceforgarycritchley.org so no excuses kiddies!!!
CC
April 28, 2010 at 10:05 pmHeido – Gary is stunned by the art materials you’ve sent to him he received them today. He said they’re beautiful, and something to really enjoy using.
He said he hopes you don’t mind but he’s sent a card to you at the postal address on the paperwork.
Great article, Alistair.
CC
April 28, 2010 at 10:10 pmps Cathe – which country are you / whoever in? that will make a difference also – Gary said thank you so much (he managed to read a bit on here today).
re: Yeah Yeah Yeahs- he heard their version of Sheena is a Punk Rocker years ago and loves it.
Penguin
April 28, 2010 at 11:21 pmThe Private Eye article is now up on the official justice website. The website is also included twice on the original post above.
http://www.justiceforgarycritchley.org/?page_id=2
Please start filling up that justice site with comments about this case as right now it is all ready to receive comments and could probably do with some more to get momentum moving with that official site. We got near on 150 on this one, plus a hatfull on the two other posts (G.B.H. and Campbell Buildings).
By all means add comments on KYPP but I feel the justice site should get equal or indeed more support right now.
There ws some talk of a site headed up with killing pet puppies as not a great host site for this important case to be propped up by and work further towards the cause, press and so forth.
Obviously Kill Your Pet Puppy is not meant literally but the real reason will probably be just as bad to explain to those in the media or officials anyway!
Read the meaning here on the front page:
http://www.killyourpetpuppy.co.uk/
AL Puppy • Post Author •
April 29, 2010 at 12:07 pmHelp needed. I have just made a wikipedia page for Gary.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Critchley
But it will need someone used to editing wiki to upgrade it or it could be deleted.
baron von zubb
April 29, 2010 at 4:50 pmal , reads very well. someone on this site must know gareth pearce. has she been approached/or not political enough?
CC
April 29, 2010 at 5:01 pmGareth has been approached, as has Julian Young- no response yet from either.
Cathe
April 29, 2010 at 9:54 pmI am in New Zealand.
Gary, No thanks needed, we wish we could do more. Please just enjoy them.
Heido
April 29, 2010 at 10:20 pmHi,
I’m so glad you like the art supplies Gary. I think about you and your situation daily. I come across so many angry and bitter people, upset over the most trivial things and here you are. A man who has had his freedom taken, unable to access the truth surrounding the events that led to imprisonment yet you are creating art and sharing it with us. I hope that everyone’s combined attempts to make this better for you make a difference. Enjoy the art supplies and thank you for taking the time to send a card. I’ll get back to you when it arrives.
Heido
Julie
April 29, 2010 at 11:06 pmHeido,
I am sure that Gary will produce some wonderful artwork with your very generous and thoughtful gift.
As more and more people pool their talents, generosity and time on this mission towards seeking justice for Gary, an enormous family of friends is forming. May this strength continue to grow and we need to be prepared to support him through all the coming stages of this process.
Heartfelt thanks to all as always!
Julie
Sharon Maher
May 1, 2010 at 2:18 amSaw Gary today with Carol. He looks the same, and still has that amazing sense of humour! What struck both myself and Carol was that he has this ability to almost be resigned to what has happened probably because he has had so many knockbacks, he has no bitterness at all. Yet, now he also has hope, and he seems to juggle these two contrasting emotions with ease and humour. I believe that the hope comes from all this……….Therefore,we cannot let him down and must perservere until his conviction is overturned.
Sharon
cc
May 1, 2010 at 10:39 pmThe Donny punkfest is putting on a series of gigs in support of Gary.
The title is great too ‘what justice system?’. This works really well: we always have to double check we’re not against anyone, or raging against any machines etc – this is not AGAINST anything – it’s FOR justice for Gary.
(We have to make sure we avoid cheesing anyone off unnecessarily, as this is literally someone’s life we’re dealing with).
We’re working on a link with some banner makers so venues etc can have their ‘justiceforgarycritchley.org’ banners as a backdrop at every gig, irrespective of who and when. If all who attend and take pics put them online and tag them to the fbook group, we can spread the word even more.
We’re aiming to have tshirts made soon with Gary’s ‘then and now’ pic on the front , with the justiceforgarycritchley.org address on the front, and one of pieces of art on the back. These will be on sale for c £12.00 – £15.00 dependent on printing etc costs (with all profits going into the’ JfGC’ fund) and a PayPal account is being opened to enable it.
Many of you have mailed us individually, asking where and how to donate money toward the cause. The PayPal account will be up and running soon – there are 683 fbook members as of today, and more on other sites. This membership is likely to more than double in the next few weeks, thanks largely to all your efforts.
If even a third of the members wanted to donate a regular £1 per week til he’s out, this will support initially the costs of printing his art cards, production of banners, t-shirts etc, as well as any other promotional work needed (fingers crossed- some of the legal costs now look like being met).
Nick Hydra
May 2, 2010 at 9:18 amHi,
Just a thought on the t shirts.
Although the picture your planning to use works very well on the website, I’m not sure it’ll work that well as a t-shirt. I only say this because I have some experience of designing t shirts.
Essentially the dimensions are wrong – most people’s torsos (and therefore t-shirts) are longer than they are wide (potrait format), while the picture is wider than it is long (landscape format). This just looks wrong on a t shirt.
It’s something to do with the human brains spatial awareness, which I don’t really understand, but there’s loads of art theories about proportion etc.
PLEASE NOTE: IT’S A LONG TIME SINCE I PRINTED ANY T SHIRTS SO TECHNOLOGY MAY HAVE LEAPED FORWARD WITHOUT ME NOTICING, IN WHICH CASE THE COMMENTS BELOW ABOUT THE PRINTING PROCESS CAN BE SAFELY IGNORED.
Also, in terms of the printing process, because it’s colour, screen printing it will be horribly expensive, so the only other option is to do a ‘heat transfer’ type thing (basically a flash version of an ‘iron-on transfer’).
This works OK but you get a very odd stiff effect as the transfer stops the material moving natuarlly. They are also prone to cracking and flaking.
I had been thinking about t shirts as well and had come up with an idea (which is obviously just that – feel free to ignore me), but if Gary were to do a self-portrait (maybe based on the ‘before and after’ pic), in stark black and white (as this works best with screen printing) in ‘portrait’ format, it would also have the advantage of being his work, so it kind of kills two birds with one stone, so to speak.
There’s a good site here: http://www.menmuir.org.uk/sunrise/ that specialises in screen printing who will probably be able to give technical advice.
Like I say – just a thought.
cc
May 2, 2010 at 9:51 amGood points: we were choosing a pic that’s longer than wide for that v reason, and your ideas and thoughts are good ones as you obviously know way more. Lots of people have suggested t shirts, so I think there’d be an audience / market, and the more people wearing them, the better.
I’ll speak to Gary later today re an image for the tshirts. I love the idea of a self portrait but I’m not sure it’ll be viable.
Tom had a great idea of aligning the shirts with the bands / gigs the band on the front, and Gary’s image on the back, with the web address. The potential challenge with those was logistical (timing, numbers for gigs, physically managing it etc).
(I wanted to see if we could get one to Russell Howard and Adrian Chiles and ask them to wear them)
Is anyone able / happy to spend time finding out what is viable, print wise, and we can make decisions from there??
Best.
C
jock
May 2, 2010 at 12:28 pmi used this place a while back to get some stickers done, they also do teeshirts, not sure what prices are like compared to other places but they did a good job on my stickers, you can find them here
http://www.phantomscreenprint.co.uk/phantomscreenprint/Welcome.html
cc – did you used to write for city fun magazine years ago?
cc
May 8, 2010 at 7:23 pmI’m away from Monday eve to may 26, so will catch up the minute I get back (won’t have phone and v limited access to mail), but will be thinking of Gary and all of you, and looking forward to hearing all about the campaign when I’m back. I’ll (work out how pt) put a mail response on my mails letting anyone know to come through here / the justice site for anything connected with the campaign in my absence. You lot rock, as my kids would say!
Jock – nope, not me, I’m just an old Granny from Brum, but I’m assuming this person had typos littering all their input?
Nick – that cd player has made a huge difference.
Baron – great letter you sent to Gary – he read it to me last night – v heart-warming and lovely.
See / hear you all v soon.
Best.
C
cc
May 13, 2010 at 8:01 pmGary’s sister Michelle has organised local media coverage – (great stuff Michelle) – look out for it on Sunday.
Nationals are displaying lots of interest – this could be another thing that tilts the balance..
Sharon Maher
May 15, 2010 at 12:30 amBirmingham Punx Picnic organiser Luke has agreed that 2010 Picnic will be a fundraiser for Gary. This will raise a minimum of £1000. This is a 3 day event. Also an all dayer on July 31st at the Adam and Eve. Many thanks to Luke for agreeing to this. Hope to see as many people as possible there to have a great time, see great bands, and to raise money for Gary!!!!
Jah Pork Pie
May 15, 2010 at 11:58 amHeard back from the Ministry Of Justice this week – they just sent me a letter apologising for not replying to my letter sent last December! They are going to send me a detailed reply in the next 3 weeks though, so at least we can start to see what their opinions are to public letters.
Got a card from Gary today – he sounds quite chipper – he was writing from outdoors in the sunshine and managed to get a copy of “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” that was going to be thrown away. The woman who was throwing it out said “Oh, have you read this one then?”. “Yeah, 15 times”, Gary apparently replied, “And now I’m in it”.
Priceless!
@Sharon-> Where/when is the picnic? I may be able to make it along.
Jah Pork Pie
May 15, 2010 at 12:07 pmBTW – if anyone wants to write directly to the Ministry of Justice, the person to write to regarding Gary is:
Ms Brigid Edwards, Team B Team Leader
National Offender Management Service
Public Protection Casework Section
8th Floor, Cleland House
Page St
LONDON SW1P 4DF
You can bother her directly by telephone on 020 7217 6150
Jah Pork Pie
May 15, 2010 at 12:10 pmWas also thinking that maybe Tom Robinson might be prepared to lend a re-release of “I Shall Be Released”? He recorded it initially for the Free George Ince campaign, didn’t he? (George Ince was the one that actually *was* innocent, as opposed to George Davis).
Or just give permission for the original to be remixed (I’m sure there must be someone who knows their way deftly around a set of decks and a mixing desk on here, innit?) [hints broadly at Penguin 🙂 ]
AL Puppy • Post Author •
May 15, 2010 at 11:11 pmBirmingham based Sunday Mercury newspaper running a story on Gary’s case 16 May 2010 See
http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/midlands-news/2010/05/16/mercury-crime-study-was-birmingham-punk-rocker-locked-up-for-murder-he-didn-t-commit-66331-26453295/
AL Puppy • Post Author •
May 16, 2010 at 8:40 pmThere is now a ‘Donate’ button on the Justice for Gary site
http://www.justiceforgarycritchley.org/
The button is there so we can start raising funds to pay for an independent forensic pathologist (as seen on TV – CSI, NCIS etc ) to challenge the original pathologist’s evidence.