Miscarriage of justice rape trial: Internet searches were coincidence – accused

A man accused of a brutal rape for which an innocent man spent 17 years in jail told a jury it was a “complete coincidence” he began internet searches following news of a DNA breakthrough in the case.

Paul Quinn, 51, looked up how long DNA is kept by police shortly after news broke that police had found forensic evidence of a previously unknown suspect for the rape.

Another man, Andrew Malkinson, had been wrongly picked out at an identity parade, convicted and jailed for the attack, a “terrible miscarriage of justice”, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Meanwhile, prosecutors say the real culprit, Quinn, had “feared a knock on the door” as advances in testing eventually came back with a billion-to-one match of his DNA profile left on the victim.

Father-of-six Quinn denies any involvement in the attack on July 19 2003 on Cleggs Lane, Little Hulton, Salford.

John Price KC, prosecuting, said in August 2022 news broke about the evidence recovered from the vest top of the victim.

Mr Price told the jury shortly after, Quinn, who by then had moved from Little Hulton to live in Exeter, Devon, made searches on his iPhone, questioning how long DNA samples are kept by police and answers as to why he had begun sweating so much.

Mr Price, who said some searches were done late at night, then asked Quinn, sat in the witness box: “Did it keep you awake? Couldn’t you sleep? Were you feeling anxious at the time? Were you worried?”

“No,” the defendant replied.

Mr Price said: “And you were frightened if they had that DNA on the database still, it would come up with a match for yours – which is what happened?”

“No,” replied Quinn again, who said his internet searching was because he was “inquisitive” after his DNA had been taken by police in 2012 and he had an interest in true crime TV programmes.

Mr Price continued: “So, is it then, a coincidence, you did this so shortly after the existence of DNA in the Malkinson case, became public?”

“Complete coincidence,” Quinn replied.

“The truth, isn’t it Mr Quinn,” the prosecutor continued, “by the late summer and autumn of 2022, you feared the police would be knocking on your door?”

“Not at all,” Quinn replied, “That didn’t interest me.”

Mr Price said the evidence showed from time to time Quinn had looked up on the internet developments in the case.

Mr Malkinson had made multiple appeals for authorities to review his case before his final attempt led to his appeal against his conviction being granted by the Court of Appeal.

Now aged 60, and originally from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, he was released from jail in 2020.

Mr Price, concluding his cross-examination, said: “Then Mr Quinn, there came the day I suggest, when you learned of the new DNA evidence and you started to sweat?”

“No, I have always been a hot-blooded person,” the defendant said.

Mr Price added: “It’s you who did it. And that’s why your DNA is on her vest top, part of which was bitten by you.”

“Not at all,” Quinn replied.

Quinn has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, two alternative counts of indecent assault, grievous bodily harm and attempting to choke or strangle his victim to render her unconscious while he carried out the attack.

The trial was adjourned until Tuesday next week.