Ched Evans' rape conviction under review after new evidence brought to light
Ex-Sheffield United player first convicted of rape in April 2012
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Former footballer Ched Evans' conviction for raping a 19-year-old woman is to be reviewed after new evidence was brought forward, it has been revealed.
Evans' case was referred to the Court of Appeal in London by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice
CCRC said new evidence came to light in October.
The former Sheffield United striker and Welsh international was convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court in April 2012 for raping the woman at a hotel in Rhyl in April 2012.
The 27-year-old was released from prison in 2014 after serving half of his five-year sentence.
Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Flaux and Sir David Maddison will be considering the safety of his conviction at a hearing at the High Court.
The referral to appeal judges followed a 10-month investigation by the CCRC.
CCRC chair Richard Foster said: "The decision of the commission is not a judgment on guilt or innocence in relation to Ched Evans, nor is it a judgment about the honesty or integrity of the victim or any other person involved in the case.
"Our role is to consider applications to see if, in our judgment, there is any basis on which to ask the court to hear a fresh appeal - that is our statutory responsibility.
"In this case we have identified new material which was not considered by the jury at trial and which, in our view, might have assisted the defence.
"In those circumstances, it is right and proper for the matter to be before the court so that they can decide whether or not the new information should affect the verdict in this case."