Appeal Court quashes conviction of cops in 2010 Manchester killing

The Court of Appeal has quashed the conviction of two policemen who were convicted of murder in the controversial New Year’s Day killing of a man in Alligator Pond, Manchester in 2010.

They are detectives Leonard Lindsey and Tyrone Findley, who were both assigned to the Manchester Police.

The two policemen have been in custody since 2014 when they were each sentenced to 25 years in prison for the shooting death of 27 year old mason Anthony Richards at the Alligator Pond Beach in Manchester.

The killing triggered angry protests by residents in the South Manchester community during which a section of the Alligator Pond Police Station and other properties were damaged.

The Court of Appeal, in its decision which was handed down yesterday, agreed with attorneys for the two policemen that they were acting in self defence as a firearm was seized during the incident.

The Appeal Court also found that the trial judge failed to give the jury proper direction.