'Good Samaritan' Riot Convictions Quashed

Two men jailed for the robbery of an injured victim of the London riots - a crime that caused revulsion around the world - have had their convictions quashed.

Malaysian accountancy student Ashraf Rossli was smashed in the face, suffering a broken jaw, during the disorder that swept parts of Britain in August 2011.

Amateur footage captured the moment he walked in a daze over a flyover in the Barking area of the capital and was approached by two men who appeared to be good Samaritans.

However, while pretending to help the 21-year-old they plundered his backpack, stealing a console and the games that went with it.

The clip was posted on YouTube and watched by millions of people as police searched for the perpetrators.

John Kassongs Kafunda, 23, of Eastwood Road, Ilford, and Reece Donovan, 25, of Cross Road, Romford, were later arrested, convicted and jailed.

Mr Kafunda was sentenced to four years and three months for robbery and violent disorder, while Mr Donovan was told he would serve five years for robbery, violent disorder and burglary.

However, they have now had their convictions overturned on appeal by the country's top judge, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, sitting with two senior colleagues.

The hearing was held in private at the Court of Appeal, but Lord Judge, Mr Justice Fulford and Mr Justice Bean announced their decision in open court.

Mr Kafunda and Mr Donovan insisted it was not them in the video clip, but were convicted on the back of anonymous witness evidence.

The prosecution did not seek a retrial.