Footballer Ched Evans faces month-long wait in rape appeal case

FORMER Sheffield United footballer Ched Evans faces a wait until next month to find out if he has won a challenge against his conviction for raping a 19-year-old woman.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Mar 2016, 15:48 BST
Updated 23rd Mar 2016, 16:27 BST
Ched Evans outside the High Court, LondonChed Evans outside the High Court, London
Ched Evans outside the High Court, London

Three Court of Appeal judges reserved their decision on Wednesday on the second day of a hearing in London.

The former Sheffield United striker and Welsh international was present in court for both days of the proceedings.

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He sat in the packed courtroom with girlfriend Natasha Massey by his side.

Ched Evans outside the High Court, LondonChed Evans outside the High Court, London
Ched Evans outside the High Court, London

Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Flaux and Sir David Maddison heard submissions over the two days from Kieran Vaughan QC, for Evans, and from Eleanor Laws QC, for the Crown.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Lady Justice Hallett announced that judgment on the appeal was being reserved, and would be delivered “as soon as possible” in April.

Evans, now 27, was convicted in April 2012. He was found guilty at Caernarfon Crown Court of raping the woman at a hotel in Rhyl, North Wales.

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He was released from prison in 2014 after serving half of his five-year sentence.

Ched Evans outside the High Court, LondonChed Evans outside the High Court, London
Ched Evans outside the High Court, London

His conviction was referred to the Court of Appeal for review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates possible miscarriages of justice.

An order made by the appeal judges on Tuesday remains in place and prevents reporting of the details of the legal argument relating to fresh evidence in the case.

It can be reported that, if Evans wins his appeal, the prosecution will seek a retrial.