Fitted In

Impact of Fitted In: The Cardiff 3 and the Lynette White Inquiry.

Over ten years ago a book was published that became the most successful piece of campaigning journalism in the history of true crime literature. Satish Sekar’s relentless demolition of South Wales Police’s investigation did far more than expose a glaring miscarriage of justice; it made the authorities take notice. The case was re-opened twice
largely due to Sekar’s efforts. The book argued that the case could still be solved and that a new DNA testing system would be the key. Six months after publication that testing system was announced by the Forensic Science Service.
And in June 1999, less than a year after Fitted In: The Cardiff 3 and the Lynette White Inquiry  was published the case was re-opened by the pioneering Unsolved and Unresolved Homicides Unit and they sought to convince Sekar that the lessons pointed to in the book had been learned. This book was written to force the authorities to solve the horrific murder of Lynette White. It is the only example of such a campaigning book that achieved that end in Britain. It is an invaluable historical record of an
incredible case and it is a testament to the power of investigative journalism at its best. Rarely has the conscience been pricked as effectively as this book achieved.
On July 4th 2003 it became the first book in British history to help to resolve a miscarriage of justice by the conviction of the truly guilty - the main reason it was written. As such it is the most successful book of its type in British history.
Many of the criticisms made of the original inquiry in this book have been adopted by South Wales Police, whose investigation into possible criminal conduct in thatinquiry
resulted in the three alleged eyewitnesses being jailed for eighteen months for perjury in December 2008. Three months later the Crown Prosecution Service announced that thirteen police officers involved in that case had been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and two witnesses with perjury.
The trial is likely to begin in the Spring of 2011. It has redefined perceptions of what can be achieved by forensic science and investigative journalism. It has changed awareness of miscarriage of justice issues in Britain for ever.

Fitted In: The Cardiff 3 and the Lynette White Inquiry (ISBN 0-9527325-0-5) can be ordered from the Fitted-In Project at www.fittedin.com for £15 (including post and packaging in the UK. Rates vary abroad).

“This book should be read by all those people involved in the criminal justice system and above all by those who wish to see the restoration of total confidence in that system" Roger Backhouse QC (Yusef Abdullahi’s lead barrister)

“To have proved three convictions wrong; to have helped secure the release of the wronged men; to have worked successfully for the detection of the perpetrator of the crime and help secure a conviction; and to have then been part of the largest investigation ever of what went wrong in a miscarriage of justice, which resulted in the arrest of thirty-four people including twenty police officers involved in the original case, is a qualification unique to Satish Sekar. He is obviously a genius.” Tim Gopsil (Editor of the Journalist)

“The impact was tremendous. Had there been no book, there would have been no enquiry. The book was much in the vein of Emile Zola's J'accuse, which started an almost similar enquiry a hundred years back.” Professor Anil Aggrawal (Forensic Pathologist - India)