Paul Quinn, 51, is on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of raping and violently beating a woman in 2003, a case for which Andrew Malkinson was wrongfully convicted and spent 17 years in prison. Quinn was arrested in December 2022 after fresh DNA analysis linked his DNA to the victim's clothing. The prosecution's case centers on DNA evidence and Quinn's online behavior.
In July 2022, The Guardian revealed that a new suspect was implicated in the attack due to fresh DNA analysis. The prosecution alleges that Quinn's online searches indicate he knew Andrew Malkinson's conviction was wrongful before it became public, and that his increased online news reading after July 2022 was because he was checking for updates on the new suspect. Paul Quinn denies two counts of rape, one count of attempt to strangle, and one count of assault intending to cause grievous bodily harm.
Quinn testified that he does not know how his DNA got on the victim's clothes. He told police he was very promiscuous around the time of the attack, which might explain the DNA. Quinn's online activity has been scrutinized during the trial.
In September 2019, he searched online for a 2004 story about the original trial and then for "wrongly convicted cases uk". After July 2022, there was an exponential rise in his online news reading, including 249 visits to the Manchester Evening News in three months. Quinn also searched for "how long is DNA kept in database" and "why do i keep sweating all the time".
Quinn testified that he has always been interested in true crime programs. The alleged victim testified about the attack and the original trial. She described her attacker as having dark, wavy hair, olive or sunburned skin, a muscular body, and a local Bolton accent with something else.
She said she scratched the left side of her assailant's face during the attack. During the 2004 trial, she was unsure she had the right man, but an authority figure told her it was trial nerves. The trial continues as the court examines the evidence and testimonies presented.