Man’s conviction for child rape quashed

A man who was found guilty of raping a five-year-old boy has had
his conviction quashed after doubts were thrown on the expert
testimony of Dr Camille San Lazaro.

Kevin Brown, of County Durham, was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court
in July 1996.

He has always maintained his innocence and his case was referred to
the Appeal Court by the Criminal Cases Review Commission – an
independent watchdog that investigates suspected miscarriages of
justice.

Evidence from San Lazaro had been central to the prosecution case
against Brown. But the court heard that San Lazaro had been
“completely discredited in relation to her handling of a number of
allegations of sexual abuse” during the 2002 libel victory of
Tyneside nursery workers Dawn Reed and Christopher Lillie.

Ruling that Brown’s conviction was unsafe, Lord Justice Kennedy
said medical evidence at his trial had been “oversimplified to the
detriment of the defence”.