Newsquest’s investigations reporter has been shortlisted for one of Britain’s most prestigious journalism awards.
Charles Thomson is in the running for the Orwell Prize for Journalism, for his reporting on the justice system and wrongful convictions – including uncovering new evidence in an East End murder case.
He is shortlisted alongside reporters for outlets including the Financial Times, the Guardian, the Economist and the BBC.
The prize, given annually since 1994 in memory of George Orwell, is for journalists who “make political writing into an art”.
Past winners include Paul Foot, George Monbiot, Carole Cadwalladr, Polly Toynbee and Peter Hitchens.
Charles, who runs Newsquest’s London Uncovered newsletter, is shortlisted for three feature articles – two for Newsquest and one guest-written for legal journal PROOF.
The PROOF article was based on dozens of stories for the Romford and Ilford Recorders about convicted killer Jason Moore.
Jason was charged with the Gants Hill murder of Robert Darby after a single witness picked him from a photo line-up seven years after the crime.
No forensics or other witnesses implicated Jason, who is now 12 years into a life sentence.
Charles has spent years reinvestigating and writing about the case, including tracking down the witness whose ID resulted in Jason’s murder charge.
The witness admitted he wasn’t sure he’d picked the right person as he’d been drunk when he saw the killing. He also claimed he’d told police he’d been drinking.
If true, these crucial facts were withheld from Jason’s defence. They are now the basis of an appeal application.
Charles’s second shortlisted article used Jason’s case and two others from Romford and Hackney to explore how the Court of Appeal is making it harder and harder to overturn miscarriages of justice.
His final shortlisted article was a Christmas interview with Jason, from his prison cell.
The winner will be announced in June.
All shortlisted journalists are invited to become fellows of the Orwell Foundation, a registered charity which aims to “shine a light on brave writing, uncovering hidden lives and uncomfortable truths”.
*Got a scandal or injustice for Charles to investigate? Email charles.thomson@newsquest.co.uk.
Share