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Saptal Ram given judicial review

01 May 1994

After eight years in prison Satpal Ram has finally been granted a judicial review of his case. In 1986 Mr Ram was convicted of murder following an incident in which he was assaulted by six white men following a row in a restaurant, in Birmingham, after they racially abused staff. Mr Ram was attacked when he attempted to intervene.

Although Mr Ram was taken to hospital, where he needed stitches, his defence counsel advised him against pleading self- defence. Also, three key Bengali-speaking witnesses were not provided with interpreters, which meant that the all-white jury were unable to understand their testimony. As Mr Ram put it himself: "All the evidence suggests that I defended myself from a racial attack, yet I am still in prison serving a life sentence."

Supporters of Mr Ram have been conducting a campaign demanding that his case be re-opened. Over one hundred people attended the picket outside the High Court in May where he was granted a judicial review. The campaign will continue and supporters are asked to write to their MP or the Home Secretary.

The Free Saptal Campaign can be contacted at 101 Villa Road, Handsworth, Birmingham B19 1NH.