Arts centre hosts innocence discussion
Lusanda Zokufa
An online discussion on the miscarriages of justice, Does Innocence Matter, is presented by Windybrow Arts Centre.
The centre has opened its doors to another treasured international partnership with a topic dear to the arts fraternity, human rights.
Windybrow Arts Centre together with local poetry and live performance curators Hear My Voice present Does Innocence Matter? in dialogue with Satish Sekar on his book, Trial & Tribulations.
A three-part online discussion unpacks the miscarriages of justice around the globe, heard from the victims and activists leading the fight to reform the justice system around the world.
In 2017 UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd announced that there would be no public inquiry into a very limited aspect of this notorious miscarriage case.
Sekar outlines the shameful way that despite clear evidence of innocence the Cardiff Five were prosecuted by the backdoor twice more, without any safeguards.
“Innocence should matter, but in practice it doesn’t. The system is stacked against those protesting innocence even if they are proven to be. There are several cases where people have proved innocence beyond doubt by proving who really did it. However, many are denied compensation or apologies even then. In some cases, even after the real perpetrator has been caught, the truly innocent have no representation when facing what amounts to another trial. The innocent must have a voice. In short, innocence must matter.”- Satish Sekar
The three-part series; The Trial of Innocence, The Integrated Approach to Investigation and Racial Justice, are the themes explored in answering whether innocence matters at all. The discussion involves victims and interested parties highlighting the problems facing the innocent, even after they have proved innocence, but it will lead to solutions.
Participants highlight their experiences and suggestions. The discussion seeks to develop a way forward that facilitates respect for the vindicated.
Satish Sekar is a freelance journalist and researcher. His work includes the feature-film In the Name of the Father, and TV and radio; Panorama, Trial and Error, Law in Action and Channel 4 News. He has written for the Guardian, Independent, Daily Telegraph, The Voice and Private Eye. He is the founding director, and now CEO of The Fitted-In Project, a justice organisation.
Sekar has been involved in various high-profile issues, including in relation to police reform, police complaints, DNA-testing and related databases.
His previous books are Fitted In: The Cardiff 3 and the Lynette White Inquiry and The Cardiff Five: Innocent Beyond Any Doubt.
The dialogues are hosted by international speakers and moderators. The episodes started on 4 July with The Trial of Innocence, and 7 July with The Integrated Approach.
On 10 July there will be Episode 3, Racial (in) Justice between 19:00 -20:00; on Instagram @markettheatre; Facebook @TheMarketTheatre and @windybrowartscentre; Twitter: @markettheatre.
