Justice for Ivan Fergus campaign (1)
01 January 1991
Justice for Ivan Fergus campaign
artdoc August=1992
Ivan Fergus is a 14-year old black youth who was arrested on his
way to school in Peckham, south London, following an attack on
a man a month earlier. He was convicted of assault and is
currently serving fifteen months at Orchard Lodge, a local
`secure' children's unit.
The only evidence against Ivan was the victims identification
of him, but serious doubts have been raised concerning it.
Immediately after the attack he told police that his attacker was
5ft 11in tall, of slightly brown complexion with stubble on his
face. He was 16-18 years of age. Ivan is described by his mother
as 5ft 7in, with a dark complexion; he was only 13 and had not
started shaving. He also has an alibi. At the time of the assault
he says he was with school friends at a leisure centre several
miles from Peckham. None of his friends was interviewed by police
before the trial.
Mrs Fergus said: `How could this happen when the description
of the attacker didn't fit that of my son, when there was no
evidence to support the charge and when Ivan continually
protested his innocence and had an alibi?'.
Justice for Ivan Fergus Campaign: 192 Evelyn Street, London SE8
5DB or telephone 081 692 1308.
Statewatch vol 2 no 4, July/August 1992