BBC Rough Justice - The Usual Suspect

Rough Justice
The Usual Suspect
In 1992, Paul Berry was found guilty of an armed robbery on a building society in Old Colwyn, North Wales.
Eye-witnesses said he was the man who held two elderly women cashiers at knife point. But Rough Justice has uncovered evidence which suggests the case against him was far less routine than it appeared.
The programme reveals that Paul Berry had an alibi which the police could only break by testimony from a convicted conman. Rough Justice found that the police broke nearly every rule in the book in building their case against Paul Berry, including contaminating the identification evidence that helped to convict him.
Contributors
Reporter John Ware
Paul Berry: Duncan Henderson
Barrister: Paul Connolly
DC James Coy: Steve Spiers
Paul Crewe: Ieuan Rhys
Eiddier Jones: Rhona Lewis
DC Ian Langston: Andy Snowden
Bethan Roberts: Sara Mair Thomas
Director & Producer: Ed Braman
Producer: Elizabeth Clough
BBC One London, 12 March 1996

[@myster.ejones1306]

This is the equivalent of the police firing an arrow into a wall, then running up, drawing a circle round it and shouting "Bullseye'!

[@trishg151]

Love this analogy.. 👍👍👍

[@martinnevey7258]

Greetings from Scotland. ..analogy of the year..bravo

[@Jamie-gs3yp]

Or them covering your eyes with their hand as you look at a bare brick wall, only to move their hand moments later to reveal a full professional oche with Pro board and one golden arrow sticking out of the bullseye and he's looking at you smiling giving you the thumbs up.

[@wallaceramon5122]

instablaster...

[@davidrees5030]

The 4 thumbs down are police officers not open to the fact they could well be wrong.

[@ruthbashford3176]

I don't know how the jury ever convicted Paul Berry. In fact I don't know how it ever got as far as a trial.

[@scottgeorge4268]

This series was cancelled by the BBC as not being profitable or sufficiently effective. But this is just the type of series that the BBC should still be making today, a program that interests people and exposes possible miscarriages of justice and police corruption. The funding of the BBC should be revised and not be met by tax payers using the TV Licence.

[@simonpearn479]

This was such a brilliant programme!

[@Olivia-vn1tf]

There are no investigative journalists any more, only activists, the state never makes mistakes. Anyone that says otherwise is a conspiracy theorist.

[@weealpha64]

How did a jury say guilty? The officers were lying and were destroyed in the box but still guilty verdict. Should be ashamed

[@Aaron613V]

There should be criminal charges taken against the police involved.

[@dannykirton6445]

Even on the rare occasion that the police did get charged in these type of cases they always got not guilty, Most of the time they wasn't even charged even in cases 100 times worse than this, this type of thing was basically standard procedure for the police back then.

[@eamonnevans8005]

Paul Berry's conviction would have to be overturned first.

[@liammellows-hz3pf]

When getting a conviction at all costs,also knowing full well the accused is innocent really is scraping the barrel,it then proceeds to the police trying to work their way up the ladder for a better paid job within their career prospects. How can the police do this,knowing full well they have the wrong person,have they no shame?

[@margaretbanks8969]

Not only is it unfair on person locked up but it leaves the guilty free to strike again.

[@stephenholmes1036]

A series much missed showing the shocking standard of journalism today.

[@stephenholmes1036]

Correct, Rough Justice, World in Action, Man Alive

[@leannewilliams9400]

As he walked out he said u won't see me again !! No he never they made that bit up 🤣🤣

[@marklynch5149]

Even after PACE some police officers will gladly bend the rules to get a 'result'. The courts should be aware of this.

[@simonpearn479]

The 'policeman' also appeared in the Ricky Gervais series 'Extra's'

[@tegwenhafparry7488]

Jeez this is North Wales, the reconstructions have mostly South Wales accents!

[@GotMeStumped]

Shout out to the Maiden shirt 🤘

[@simonpearn479]

And the Motorhead one?

[@michaelalbrecht6723]

I only watched this cause the guy was wearing an Iron Maiden Tshirt

[@margaretbanks8969]

Would you recognize someone you only saw for a few minutes at a moment of high stress? In my cases all a robber would have to do is knock my glasses off. Then he'd just be a blur.

[@chesneyhawkes5052]

Supposed to have changed his clothes then didn't cover up his face lol

[@kdlofty]

"Well anyway, you're under arrest" Lol.

[@ocnb]

Didn't know there were so many South Walians in Old Colwyn. I'm also curious as to why the camera crew didn't report him if they'd been filming him acting so suspiciously!

[@simonclord7697]

I am trying to obtain everyone of these broadcast on DVD. Does anyone have copies or could point me in the right direction. I was enthralled by this series as a kid and neither BFI or Network have any plans to release them.

[@petej8556]

Take a left at the bus stop, go 200 yards down the road, there's a post box at a junction, go right at that junction, then take the 1st left, 50 yards on there's 2 houses, one with a yellow door, 1 with a red, go in the red. Go up the stairs & it's the door with "you are in the right place" written on it. You're welcome.

[@rogerscottcathey]

Cant find any follow up for this case.

[@eamonnevans8005]

This case is over 30 years old now. Does anyone know if Paul Berry finally had his named cleared.

[@RiggySmalls]

Up the Irons

[@omarthearab81]

The judge should have instructed the jury that they could not make a decision and through the police not following the appropriate rules. The judge is complicit in this just like the police assumptive and corruption.

[@mikeheap7978]

Bent coppers, who'd have thought it 🤪

[@petej8556]

MO FO's tried to fit me right up! Said I farted on someone's doorstep & ran away! Said they have cctv. Said it was a "full fart"! "Touching Cloth" no less! Showed me a doctored video of someone wearing a picture of my face as a mask & running up to a doorstop & squatting but there's no sound so can't hear the apparent "fart" or as I call it now the "phantom fart"! Anyway, I told them to "Eat Shit". Big Ste is brewing one up & gonna give it me, apparently it'll be a "noble sized dump"! Which I well believe. I'm gonna give it them, gonna give it them, uuuhhhh, I'm gonna give it them, but they ain't never took nothing from me.

[@rogerscottcathey]

That prime suspect drawing looked like Richard "Ringo Starr" Starkey. Must have been during the residuals battle.

[@CARLIN4737]

nobody knows what your talking about macca!

[@CARLIN4737]

or cares

[@kait2972]

The jury was forced to decide the credibility of the line up evidence which was already established to be tainted. What the actual fuck was the judge on!

[@darkmagician9916]

It was Yosser Huse from the black stuff

[@kailashpatel1706]

What is it about Rhyl, James Hanratty claimed he was there in 1961 and now this case!!!!

[@geoffjoffy]

Thanks

[@oldfan1963]

"Paul Berry is no angel." Can't help thinking about "Britain's Greatest Scrounger." Hahaha!

[@simonpearn479]

Was Paul released from Prison?

[@molliemae6855]

Im just 10 minutes in…Why bother?! Murderers get a slap on the wrist and hardly any prison time so how much time would someone with armed robbery get?!

[@harrycallahan9143]

All this tells me is don't ever wear a Iron Maiden or Motorhead t shirt others you'll get done for robbery.

[@mcfcguvnors]

......GULP :/ :p

[@petej8556]

This is why you should Always pack the .44 Magnum wherever you go! The most powerful handgun in the World & if finding yourself in a similar situation well, you only have one question & that's.....well, do you feel lucky?.....PUNK!.....Well.....Do YA?

[@mirriulahwaterdog]

Can anyone tell me if his appeal was won or not.

[@Jamie-gs3yp]

Yes, someone could easily tell you using this comment section for example 👍

[@ianmackenzie7340]

Please look up Luke Mitchell, murder in a small town, part one and two on you tube, he was 14years old, now been in prison 17 years, no way did he do this, disgusting miscarriage of justice, police corruption, groups on Facebook, a petition very close to target, never have I felt so strong about a case, please help

[@stevebbuk9557]

He's guilty. Not sure about Paul Berry.

[@quagmirewasere]

I dont no wales at all but 12 miles ridden in 10 mins I think they said cant be possible surely

[@AwesomeAngryBiker]

It takes me 12mins to fly 10miles in a dead straight line. These guys really should be in elementary school

[@millwallholdings]

The policeman at the start was in Extras tv series, thinner here and more hair , the one who tried to make friends with Ricky Gervais , the restaurant scene ha

[@adamgrimsley2900]

Does anyone know where I can find the theme tune, who did it etc? I rather like it.

[@rayscard2477]

Saw the details in the comments under a different video. Will find out and return...

[@rayscard2477]

Apparently... it's called Breaking Out - composed by Ray Russell, published by KPM

[@scotishjohn]

​@@rayscard2477did you findnout

[@joyceyagoda4207]

Looks like Peter Sutcliff to me! Lovely wig Mr prosecutor except you still have your rollers on the back of your wig!

[@markstea69]

Big Al from Stella as one of the police

[@Aluminata]

' Cause...if he the mighty CBR 1100XX SUPER BLACKBIRD - he could have arrived - almost before he left. 😊

[@blade0954]

that bike wasnt available till 51 plate

[@Aluminata]

@@blade0954 Plate 51? 2001?

[@shanefunnell542]

Crikey berry would be perfect for stars in your eyes as Freddie Mercury

[@thesnowdens]

Now that’s funny!! 😂🤣😂

[@paulweston6049]

12:07 Sums Every copper ..EVER!....lol

[@CARLIN4737]

£600 hundred pounds is a fair amount in 92. It's shameful of course to be convicted for wearing an iron maiden t shirt

[@CARLIN4737]

Classic 😉

[@petej8556]

You do realise it's your own comment you're calling classic??

[@CARLIN4737]

@@petej8556 do you? of course I do you idiot. its the best comment on here. its a classic remark. you brain dead pal. or got no balls to realise I have fucked you up. you see any other comments saying classic. no. classic comment. classic t shirt. im talking to myself be cause you morons talk like morons?

[@walboyfredo6025]

It's 1991.

[@jnuttso1]

she picked out george michael in the photo book lol

[@margaretbanks8969]

Also I'm 5ft so someone of 5ft 7 would be tall to me to someone of 6ft 4 he or she would be short.

[@tegwenhafparry5524]

Why does everyone from North Wales have a South Wales accent! It's always the bloody same! We have different accents up here in the North!

[@thesnowdens]

I'm from North Wales & I'm in it!!

[@insideoutface]

@@thesnowdens Which part do you play Andy? Do you know if anything more came of it?

[@tuddles71]

gogledd is the true wales..from rhyl myself and thought the same..actor from cwm deri in this as well

[@Stettafire]

From colwyn bay myself, the accent is wildly off

[@petej8556]

I heard he was spotted by a Talent Scout. Got the part of an accessory in a phones 4 u advert. Started living big & was swept along on the massive wave of success. Bought a 2 bedroom stone house with a tile roof in HollyHead. Anyway, the high eventually came to an abrupt end & the constant pressures of living it large eventually took it's inevitable toll, all the requests for autographs down the local coal mines & being asked to host the monthly bingo & 500 nights down the club eventually caused mental decline. He now barely leaves the stone house & never phones U.

[@CARLIN4737]

Comedy of errors!

[@pablomafiadragonmaff5255]

Is the presenter father Ted's brother ???

[@AwesomeAngryBiker]

Nah Fr Teds brother is a doctor, remember the smart brother goes to med school, the stupid one joins the priest hood 😂

[@MrMattkin63]

ringer for ted

[@hellothere6937]

RIP torn

[@archer8814]

He’s an actor

[@catdaddy5472]

It's not like our justice system to get things wrong

[@scottflannigan3062]

Thank god for that there is no need for this program any more cannot be any innocents in prison now

[@stevedubzz]

Lol

[@mirriulahwaterdog]

Yeah apparently it got cut by the bbc to make way for a welsh language program.

[@scottflannigan3062]

@@mirriulahwaterdog Surely they is room for both and if there is not, then why not ?

[@mirriulahwaterdog]

@@scottflannigan3062 No worries I get your irony and agree.

[@paulgriffin5237]

@@mirriulahwaterdog some dodgy taches on there

[@howey935]

Still happening now.

[@djgaryowens]

ROTTEN to the core, the police then as they are now. Most people I am sure live in hope that they never have to call them for help.

[@mcfcguvnors]

I cant stop laughing cos the copper ( Coy ? ) is played by the dog poo bloke on Afterlife put his letters in a dog poo bin for 2 years thinking it was a letterbox :D - Afterlife outakes = go search that will cheer you up :)