Michael O’Brien was notoriously falsely imprisoned for the murder of a Cardiff newsagent in 1988. His sentence was overturned in 1999 and he successfully sued South Wales Police, eventually receiving a large financial compensation in 2006.

On 23rd May, Crime + Investigation airs a new two-part crime documentary called British Injustice with Raphael Rowe. Episode one examines O’Brien’s case, that of the so-called ‘Cardiff Newsagent Three’, taking an in depth look at the investigation that led to the conviction, and wrongful imprisonment, of O’Brien and his co-defendants Ellis Sherwood and Darren Hall.

O’Brien has previously written extensively about his case, most recently in his book The Dossier. He is also a campaigner against miscarriages of justice and The Dossier also details nine other miscarriages of justice in South Wales between 1988 and 2016. 

British Injustice will premier exclusively on Crime + Investigation at 9pm on Monday 23rd May. The episode reveals shocking police threats and coercion that led to the arrest and incarceration of the three men accused. Plus, for the first time ever, the victim’s sister and nephew break a 35-year silence and reveal exclusive insights into the case.

The presenter Raphael Rowe also spent 12 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, and fronts the popular Netflix series Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons. Episode two of the show looks at the unjust conviction of John Kamara who spent 19 years in prison for the shocking killing of Liverpool betting shop manager John Suffield.

In each episode, Rowe unveils the investigations that shattered the lives of the wrongfully accused and unveils the repeated failures within the British criminal justice system.

British Injustice with Raphael Rowe will premiere on Crime+Investigation on 23rd May at 9pm and will be available to stream on C+I PLAY from the 24th May crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/play