Between 2004-2015, Michael was Founder and Director of Innocence Network UK (INUK) (click here), which saw him facilitate the setting up, and support the subsequent running, of a national network with a total of 36 Innocence Projects in the UK dedicated to investigating and overturning wrongful convictions. This included an innocence project in a corporate law firm, which was also a global first.
In practical terms, Michael directed a team of staff and students from the University of Bristol Innocence Project to assess all applications to INUK for assistance from alleged victims of wrongful convictions for eligibility, referring over a hundred cases from almost 1,000 full applications (as well as thousands of other enquiries) to member innocence projects for further investigation. With INUK colleagues, he also organised two annual training conferences a year over the life of the organisation, as well as several additional research symposiums and additional training events (click here).
In December 2014, Dwaine George’s murder conviction was overturned, making it the first case overturned by an innocence project in the UK. It followed Mr George’s application to INUK, which was referred to a member innocence project, Cardiff (click here), to follow up on lines of further investigation identified by University of Bristol Innocence Project staff and students working for INUK at the University of Bristol.
In December 2021, Justin Plummer’s conviction for the murder of Janice Cartwright-Gilbert was overturned by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in line with a report on the case by the University of Bristol Innocence Project regarding the unreliability of footwear impressions. (Click here for: CCRC refers the murder conviction of Justin Plummer).