JUSTICE FOR AN INNOCENT MAN
Kevan Sloan and his mum Eileen
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Website created Sept 2001 Author DES HARCUS
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This
is the story of Kevan Sloan, an innocent man imprisoned in Tenerife.
On 24th May 2001 Kevan Sloan was dragged from
the street in Tenerife and thrown into jail. He was charged
with 5 robberies
with violence. These robberies happened on 15th and 16th February. 22nd April
and 15th and 22nd May 2001. When the first 3 offences occured Kevan was not in
Tenerife; he was living and working in England. His employer has sworn an affidavit
to confirm this and it has been presented to the court along with Kevan's original
wage slips and invoices signed by him on the days he was supposed to have carried
out the robberies.
This evidence irrefutably proves that that Kevin was not in Tenerife and therefore could not have commited these 3 offences. Kevan was on the island when the other 2 offences occured, however, 4 witnesses have given statements under oath in the court that Kevan was with them on 15th May when the robbery took place. When the 5th offence occured Kevan was with his mother and stepfather. The man who was robbed on this occasion could not recognise the person but has stated that the robber spoke penninsular Spanish. Kevan cannot speak Spanish. 3 appeals have been rejected by the court in Los Cristianos for Kevan to be released on bail. The basis of this being :
1. They have a video of the robbery from February, from which they have extracted
3 photographs, they claim this man is Kevan. The man is at least 10 years older
than Kevan and 2 stone heavier. The photographs were shown to 5 witnesses in court
who categorically confirmed to the judge that the man in the photographs was not
Kevan Sloan. The video was taken in February when Kevan was not on the island
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2. Kevan was identified in the street by the woman he allegedly robbed on the
15th May, this led to his arrest. She also identified him in an identity parade.
This supermarket is literally over the road from where Kevan's mother lives. He
has been in this store and purchased things before the robbery and frequently
walks past it. 4 witnesses have given statements under oath to the court that
Kevan was with them when the offence occured. Kevan was put into an identity parade
which he likened to a comedy sketch. Kevan is 5' 10'' in height and has short
dark hair. Alongside him was a small fat man with a beard, 2 men with collar length
hair and a man with a shaven head. Prior to Kevan's arrest this same woman identified
the man in the photograph as the man who robbed her.
3. Kevan is a foreigner with no ties on the island and a home and job in England,
therefore he could escape. Kevan's nationality is being used to discriminate against
him. Does this argument mean only nationals would be released on bail? A third
appeal has now been lodged in a higher court in Santa Cruz where the decision
to refuse bail may be upheld or overturned. This decision could take weeks and
weeks. Meanwhile Kevan continues to be wrongfully imprisoned , despite all of
the evidence, which undoubtedly proves his innocence.
We are fighting for
freedom and justice for Kevan Sloan. He to is a victim of robbery, as each day
he is in prison is a day stolen from his life, which can never be replaced.
I have known Kevan Sloan since he was an infant and in
my opinion he is no more a violent robber than the man in the bloody moon. I have
watched him grow into a decent hardworking member of society who is loyal to his
employers, friends and family and this snatching of him from the street in Tenerife
and throwing him in prison is a travesty of justice.
Kevan's mother who went
to school with my wife and I went to live and work in Tenerife and Kevan followed,
got himself a good job and was settling down on the island until this farce began.
He had spent years in England working with his father Tommy and was a hardworking
lad who never got into trouble.
The Tenerife authorities have got a lot to
answer for. If you can help in any way, no matter how small then please do so,
it's important. Email 2 of your friends or family and ask them to do the same
and word will rapidly spread of Kevan's plight.
To date £2000 has been
paid to solicitors with nil results. £2000 more is to be paid for new solicitors.
Mr Steven Jakobi of The Fair Trades Abroad organisation has apparently been working
on the case and Mr George Howarth MP has written several letters to the Spanish
Embassy and the British Consul with no replies as yet.
This does not only
affect Kevan it affects his friends and family who love him and are worried sick.
This could have happened to you or any one of your relatives whilst holidaying
or living on the island. The system over there is obviously not working and needs
to be addressed.
Top ........Further updates ....... Email contact
1st Oct 2001
To date all evidence presented to
the Tenerife officials has been ignored. Kevan faces up to 12 years in prison
for crimes he did not commit. Evidence that proves Kevan could not have commited
these crimes has been blatantly ignored.
12th Oct 2001
Kevan's dad Tommy and his sister Carla have been in touch with
George Howarth MP who says that there can be no intervention until Kevan has been
tried by a court and is sentenced and serving time. Kevan has already been in
prison and on remand since 24th May 2001, almost 5 months.
17th
Nov 2001
The trial date has been set for 19th Dec 2001.
6 witnesses from England have to travel to Tenerife to give evidence, including
his former boss. The judge in Tenerife may still take up to a month after this
to deliberate.
21st Dec 2001
Kevan spent
8 hours in handcuffs on 19th Dec 2001 and besides being extremely uncomfortable
he sustained injuries to his wrists as a result. He didn't understand the proceedings
as they were in Spanish. The police did not request the presence of one of the
witnesses and consequently the trial has been adjourned until 9th Jan 2002.
WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING THIS CHRISTMAS ?
12th Jan 2002
Kevan's court hearing went ahead as scheduled on 9-01-02. The judges
may still take a week to deliberate the case. A fundamental prosecution witness
from 16-2-01(when the video was taken recording the images of the armed robber)
said that it wasn't Kevan Sloan.
Fernando Mesa, Kevan's solicitor, outlined
the reasons why Kevan was innocent and apart from the above stated:
1. Why hold the keys to a business for four years and go abroad to steal £80.
2. Why pay £200 to go on holiday to rob £80.
The Spanish have
at last picked up the case and after 8 months have released the story to their
newspapers. Eileen Forrester has said that what his happening to Kevan is happening
regularly. It is only because people fight their corner that people get help.
If there is no-one to do that what happens?
To add a personal note myself,
this reminds me of the true case of an American called Billy Hayes (from the film
midnight express). He was thrown into a Turkish prison and was given a life sentence
which was not commensurate with his crime. Unlike Kevan Sloan who has committed
no crime.
I feel that the British Government should set up a special body
to look into cases like Kevan's and do something about them. Perhaps if the general
public knew the dangers of holidaying and or living in a place like Tenerife they
would think twice about going there and spending their money supporting the island.
I certainly will never set foot on the island and I know a lot of people who now
that they've had their eyes opened to just what can happen, would do the same
and stay away.
18th Jan 2002
The Tenerife
judge has deliberated and found Kevan not guilty on the first three counts of
robbery but guilty on the fourth and sentenced him to three and a half years imprisonment
on the grounds that he was identified by the woman in the supermarket as being
the man who robbed her and said to her in Spanish " If you keep quiet you
won't get hurt ". (Kevan cannot speak Spanish)
This woman had gone to
the police on 18th May 2001 and said that the same person in the video was the
man that robbed her. On 24th May when Kevan walked past the shop she said he was
the man that robbed her. Therefore if the judge is saying Kevan is not guilty
of the first three offences, therefore he is not the man in the video, (which
is plain to see anyway).
This woman has identified two different people as being the robber !
At
the time of this robbery; 11pm, Kevan was with six English people in a bar. He
had been there since 10pm and left at 3-30am. The judge claims he could have slipped
out to commit the robbery and chose to believe one Spanish witness rather than
six English ones.
Am I missing something here? It seems that the British are
a swell bunch when it comes to pouring their money into the island but can't be
trusted when giving evidence in court in the ratio of six English witnesses who
were with Kevan in a bar when the alleged robbery took place, against one Spanish
witness who has identified two different people as being the one who robbed her.
The judge has given Kevan a choice. He can be expelled from the island but only
if he pleads guilty. Or he can go to appeal which could take up to four months.
Kevan's solicitor has advised him in his professional opinion that he should go
to appeal and is confident if he does he will win. This is entirely up to Kevan.
I would plead with everyone now to contact your local MP to highlight this case.
Now that Kevan has been formally charged and sentenced the British Government
can now intervene; they should but will they? It's only people like you who can
get justice for Kevan by fighting with him against this travesty in any way you
can, no matter how small.
Remember this could just as easily have been your
son or husband, father or friend. It could happen the next time you visit the
island, if you think you want to.
It was Kevan's birthday yesterday but how
can we say happy birthday to him being where he is?we can only send him our love
and let him know we are right behind him. Hang in there kev.
Let's get working now and bring Kevan home.
19th Jan
2002
Steven Jakobi of The Fair Trials Abroad Organisation
is going to set in motion a press release to make this story big because he can't
believe what's happened here.
A few words from Kevan himself.
"I am gutted at the decision but not surprised. I've known all along that they would stitch me up for the last robbery. I am going to appeal and fight on until justice is done, no matter how long it takes. I have done 8 months and if I have to do another 8 months to prove my innocence that is what I will do."
The
phone number for the foriegn office is 0207 008 0148.
To
contact George Howarth MP (Merseyside area) the number is 0151 546 9918.
29th Jan 2002
George Howarth MP has written to Mr Jack
Straw MP about Kevan's case.
2nd Feb 2002
An
article of 29th Jan 2002 concerning Kevan's case by The Guardian newspaper can
be read at the archives section of their website. Click here.
Liverpool
Echo Lends its support
Merseyside
newspaper The Liverpool Echo has done an extensive in depth article on Kevan's
story. If you missed it in the paper you can read it here.
Just type kevan sloan in their search box
There's a facility on the Echo's website to either print out the article or email it to someone. If you know anyone who has not read the article then emailing them a copy will go a long way to helping Kevan's fight for justice. A big thanks goes out to everyone who has or is helping Kev in any way, no matter how small, it all counts.
8th Feb 2002 Further
updates in The Echo can be accessed via their homepage and typing kevan sloan
in the search box at the top of the page. Click
the button above.
8th March 2002
Kevan's
appeal was heard today. Check out the details in the Liverpool Echo. Click on
the above button.
12 March 2002
I have
just recieved two letters from Carla Sloan. One is a letter from Baroness Amos
from the Foreign and Commonwealth office and the other is a reply to that letter
from George Howarth MP. In the first letter dated 22-02-02, Baroness Amos states
that, and I quote. "Kevan was positively identified in an identity parade
and the main witnesses stated that they were positive that Kevan was the perpetrator."
Baroness Amos also states in her letter and I quote. "You will understand
that under international law we are not able to get involved in the judicial proceedings
of other countries."
In the letter of reply by George Howarth MP
dated 4-03-02 Mr Howarth thanked Baroness Amos for her "wholly unsatisfactory
letter of 22nd February 2002" He goes on to say, and I quote. " As Kevan's
family rightly point out, the government has demonstrated its willingness to use
intervention in legal cases abroad; most recently in the case of the plane-spotters
in Greece." To read updates of Kevan's case in the Liverpool Echo click the
read echo button above.
14th March 2002
Unbelievably,
Kevan's appeal has failed. Read the story in The Liverpool Echo. On a personal
note and knowing Kevan as I do I would just like to remind you all who are reading
this that Kevan is the victim and the truth will come out eventually. The real
perpetrator of these crimes would not hesitate in seeking an easy way out of this.
Kevan is innocent and we all know it. His country should do all in its power to
help him!
9th April 2002
I have just
recieved a copy of a letter from Sabine Zanker dated 5th April 2002. She informs
Kevan's sister Carla that she has written to the Spanish Ministry of Justice and
sent copies to a number of Spanish and British MPs and MEPs. I also recieved a
Fair Trials Abroad
Memorandum which gives in depth up to date details of Kevan's
case. It can be read here
On
Saturday 20th April from 10 am to 4 pm there will be a chance for people to sign
a petition to get justice for Kevan. This will take place in Liverpool city centre
at:
The bottom of Bold Street/top of Church Street.
.Bottom
of Church Street/top of Lord Street.
Williamson Square.
Clayton Square.
Please
come and lend your support to Kevan,
remember,
it could be a member of your family next time.
20th April 2002
Petition in Liverpool
city centre. Read about it in the echo above!
1st May 2002
According to the
BBC news website regarding the "Plane Spotters" in Greece; (quote.
"Mr Straw is striving to free the group with diplomacy". end quote)
My
question is: What's he doing for Kevan?
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At last, a positive response !
1st June 2002
Kevan's
parents travelled to London on Thursday 30th May 2002 to deliver a petition containing
thousands of signatures in support of their son to Jack Straw. George Howarth
MP was with them. The meeting went well and they say Mr Straw was very sympathetic
and would be dealing with the case. Read the latest report in The Liverpool Echo
above.
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10th June
2002
The Fair Trials Abroad (Press release for victims day 16th May)
We would like to encourage the public to write to us on behalf of the victims and we will forward their letters to embassies. This will have two beneficial effects. It will make the relevant foreign governments realise the existence and strength of public concern and it will also enable our diplomats to raise the problem of public concern with their foreign counterparts.
Stephen
Jakobi
Fair Trials Abroad
Bench house
Ham Street
Richmond
Surrey TW10 7HR
www.fairtrialsabroad.org
Email
stephenjakobi@compuserve.com
7th
Sept 2002
Latest news on Kevan. On
the brink of freedom. Check it out in the Liverpool Echo. Click
here
14th Oct 2002
Kevan's
case to be debated in parliament. Read Echo updates
4th
Nov 2002
Draft of speech in the house of commons by George
Howarth MP. Click here
9th
Dec 2002
Want to write a letter or two to help out Kevan?
Click here for details.
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7th Jan 2003
Another Christmas in jail
but this time with no one to talk to. Further updates in Liverpool Echo here. Anyone considering going to this island to holiday or to live and/ or work needs to think seriously about exactly what they will be financially supporting.
18th Jan 2003
Coach journey to the
Spanish Embassy in London by family and supporters. Read
updates in The Echo.
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Copy of email from Sarah de Mas on 16-01-03.
Just to bring you up to date, following my
letter to the Minister of Justice in December 2002 I have raised Kevan's case
with the Spanish Ombudsman, asking him to advise on whether there exists legal
remedy (e.g.by way of review) and further, whether the appeal to the Constitutional
Tribunal can be speeded up. Submitted in April 2002 the Tribunal has yet to decide
on admissability. If admitted, a judgment could take at least as long again.
May I please correct an earlier entry to say that in April 2002 Sarah de
Mas and Stephen Jakobi raised the case in person with the Secretary General of
the Ministry of Justice in Madrid. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ana Palacio,
who is a good friend of FTA and a lawyer herself, has also been kept informed
of the case.
Yours,
Sarah de Mas
Sarah de Mas
Deputy Director
Fair Trials Abroad
22 Hawthorn Way
Cambridge CB4 1AX
Tel:+44 (0) 1223
319 009
Fax:+44 (0) 1223 313 543
elip@btinternet.com
www.fairtrialsabroad.org
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28th
February 2003
British PM urged to speak to Spanish PM.
Read in The Echo
7th March 2003
Final appeal in Madrid fails !
Updates 2
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If you have any comments or can help in any way please do
so or email me.
.Information regarding this case has been
supplied by Carla Sloan and Eileen Forrester and is to the best of my knowledge
factual
.© 2001 - 2005 DES HARCUS