After Eight: The Story of Satpal

This evening centres the story of Satpal Ram, whose case became one of the UK’s most high-profile miscarriages of justice during the 1990s.

In 1986, Satpal Ram was subjected to a racist attack in a Birmingham curry house after white men directed racial abuse towards him and objected to Indian music being played. During the violence, Satpal defended himself against an assault involving a glass. One of the attackers later died, and Satpal was sentenced to life imprisonment. It later emerged that the man who died had refused medical attention but this information – along with other key facts –was not considered in the case.

His trial was marked by serious injustice. Key witnesses were not properly heard, language interpretation was denied to Indian witnesses, and Satpal himself was never fully able to tell his version of events to the jury. His case sparked widespread support both inside and outside…