The Death of Justice: Guilty Until Proven Innocent

The harrowing true story of Michael O'Brien who was imprisoned for 11 years for a murder he didn't commit. Michael received the largest payout ever by the police to anyone who has been wrongly convicted. During his time in prison Michael taught himself Law and fought for justice – but during that time he lost everything he had, including his wife and child. After his release he set up MOJO (the Miscarriage of Justice Organisation) at the House of Commons with one of the Birmingham Six and has worked extensively with Liberty.

The author lives in Cardiff and has a high profile in the press - he's appeared on Sky News, BBC Newsnight; Trisha; Kilroy; Radio 4 + 5 Live, and been featured in The Observer; Times, Sunday People, Daily Telegraph, New Statesman and Daily Express.

Books gets author out of prison and into publishing

Michael O’brien, who was imprisoned for 11 years for a murder he didn’t commit will give a full account of his ordeal and his fight for justice in the forthcoming book called The Death of Justice. The autobiography is published by Welsh publishers, Y Lolfa and the author is glad of the continuing support of the publishers, as a book they published in 1984 played a crucial part in his release from prison.

Michael O’brien said: “When I went for bail it was bought to my attention that there was a similar case of misscarriage of justice that had happened many years earlier described in the book Police Conspiracy published by Y Lolfa.” “The book was used at the appeal and at the bail hearing and convinced the judge to free me on bail, pending an appeal. There were striking similarities between both cases which bought police investigations into question. There’s no doubt that Police Conspiracy went a long way to establish my innocence in the courts and helped to uncover what had gone on in the case. It played a significant part in my release.”

Michael O’brien also feels that had the judges of the original trial known about the case in Police Conspiracy they may have reached a different verdict. He added: “I’m very grateful to Y Lolfa for what they’ve done, and I hope my book will bring attention to all cases of miscarriage of justice in Britain.”

Michael O’brien received the highest compensation payout ever for miscarriage of justice in 2006, a sum of near a million pounds, and in his book he reveals how he lost everything, including his family while in prison, and then turned to study law to work on his case. He was released in 1999 after eleven years behind bars.

The Death of Justice is written with Greg Lewis.

“I am not admitting to something I did not do” Michael O’Brien

It is a modern day tale of David and Goliath; of one man’s quest to clear his name taking his fight to the highest courts in the land and creating legal history.

In his own words Michael O’Brien tells his moving story of how he was imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit – the Cardiff Newsagent Murder during the 1980s. The book reveals the trauma and heartache he suffered whilst in prison and how he learnt to cope. During the eleven years he not only the lost his freedom and youth but also members of his family including the tragic death of his daughter and step-father.

The Death of Justice uncovers the shocking story of how police incompetence and scapegoating result in three innocent men being convicted and the catalogue of mistreatment during their time in prison. It is also details how Michael O’Brien taught himself law and successfully took two Home Secretaries Michael Howard and Jack Straw to court, a governor from HMP Longlartin, how he won his appeal and eventual release and the largest payout in legal history.

Gareth Pierce, a leading human rights lawyer writes in her thought- provoking forward: “a total death of justice… For the victim, what does that mean, what does it feel like hour by hour, day by day? None of us know who have not had it happen to us. Is it like being buried alive, conscripted into a regime? Is it to fell, day by day, that you are a dead man walking? An how does that fit…How does any human being deal with finding himself alive, but dead to the world, where he is intended to remain possibly for the rest of his life?”

9th July 1999 – Michael O ‘Brien made legal history by winning a case to allow inmates access to journalists following a legal battle with two Home Secretaries, Michael Howard and Jack Straw and the Prison Governor of HMP Long Lartin.

17th December 1999 the Cardiff Three had their name cleared by the Court of Appeal. The case again made legal history in relation to expert evidence on confessions, now referred to as the O’Brien test.

Michael O’Brien took the Home Office compensation assessor Lord Brennan to the Court of Appeal forcing a break down of the compensation awards in 2003.

In 2006 Michael O’Brien was awared the largest payout in British legal history from a police force for mailicious prosecution.

Michael O’Brien now lives in Cardiff with his partner and family and continues to support people who face similar legal battles.