CHED EVANS had his rape conviction quashed today – but the footballer will
face a retrial.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the guilty verdict passed during his 2012 trial
for the alleged rape of a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room.
Evans was present at the central London court with his partner Natasha Massey
to hear the verdict and the pair walked out hand in hand after the ruling.
He will now face a retrial for the same charge after the emergence of fresh
evidence prompted the appeal.
A statement on his website read: “We all welcome today’s decision by the
Court of Appeal.
“The evidence which had been previously unseen proved without doubt that
Ched Evans is and has always been innocent.
“Ched would like to thank all of his family, friends, legal team and
football supporters from around the country especially those of Sheffield
United for their support, encouragement and belief.
It continued: “Today’s decision and the whole process could not have been
possible without the unconditional love, belief and support of Natasha and
both families.
“However, there are no winners and no celebration.
“Finally, Ched would like to place on record his thanks to the judiciary
for carrying out a detailed process, repaying his faith in the legal system
and confirming that Ched was correct in maintaining his innocence from day
one.
“No further statements will be made, but we would respectfully request
that Ched, Natasha, their families and others affected are now given time
and space to start rebuilding their lives.”
Evans was released from jail in 2014 having served just half of his five-year
sentence after being found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel
room in Rhyl, North Wales, in May 2011.
Announcing the court’s decision, Lady Justice Hallett confirmed the judges
presiding over the case had heard “fresh evidence” during the
appeal hearing on March 22 and 23.
She said: “In summary, we have concluded that we must allow the appeal
and that it is in the interests of justice to order a retrial.”
It was added: “The appellant will be retried on the allegation of rape.”
Evans’ referral to appeal judges had followed a ten-month investigation by the
commission.
At his trial, Evans insisted he had consensual sex with the woman after a
night out.
But the prosecution said the unnamed woman was too drunk to consent.
Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald, 23, who admitted having sex with the same
woman, was found not guilty on the same charge.
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Family and friends of the footballer had launched a high-profile campaign to
have his conviction overruled, running the website www.chedevans.com in a
bid to seek an appeal.
The homepage of the website reads: “Chedwyn Evans maintains his absolute
innocence and his family, friends and many who know the true facts of the
case believe that his conviction was a gross miscarriage of justice.”
The ex-Wales international’s acquittal raises the prospect of him resuming his
football career – pending a potential retrial – after several clubs had
rejected the chance to sign him following pressure from angry fans.
Upon confirmation of the decision to consider the appeal last month, CCRC
chair Richard Foster 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.
“In this case we have identified new material which was not considered by
the jury at trial and which, in our view, might have assisted the defence.”
Prior to his imprisonment, Evans had scored 48 goals in 113 games Sheffield
United, which included 35 in 42 games during the 2011/12 campaign, though
this was cut short due to his trial and conviction.
Oldham Athletic had been among a number of clubs hoping to sign the player,
but pulled out of a deal and apologised to fans after an anti-Evans petition
received thousands of signatures.