Darren Cash

Darren Cash was convicted of the rape and kidnapping of Deborah Ben-David. His cousin, Michael Cash, was also found guilty of rape. The compainant described accepting a lift home from Darren (the driver) and Michael (the passenger) but not being taken home, and being raped by Michael. On appeal evidence of a severe mental deficit was introduced that led the Court of Appeal to conclude that the conviction was unsafe. Michael Cash was described as “obviously” being the main protagonist in the case. Had the jury known of the levels of Darren’t mental deficit, they might have considered any lies he told as being to protect his co-defendant rather than indicating his own guilt. On this basis, the conviction was quashed. A retrial was not ordered since Cash had already served almost 4 years in prison.In addition, an expert testified that his level of disability means he should have been a candidate for a hospital order rather than imprisonment.