Raphael Rowe is a British broadcast journalist and presenter who was wrongly convicted in 1990 of a murder and a series of aggravated robberies, known as the M25 Three, along with two co-defendants. Despite being imprisoned for nearly twelve years, their convictions were ultimately ruled unsafe in July 2000, leading to their release.
Born in 1968 in South-East London, Rowe grew up in a family of Jamaican and British heritage. He was wrongly accused of a violent attack in 1988 that resulted in a man's death and a series of home robberies. The victims' descriptions of the perpetrator were inconsistent, and Rowe's girlfriend later admitted to lying about his involvement. Nonetheless, Rowe and his co-defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in March 1990.
Rowe maintained his innocence throughout his imprisonment, suggesting a conspiracy involving the police and witnesses. After years of legal battles, including an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, their convictions were overturned, and they were released in July 2000.
Following his release, Rowe pursued a career in journalism, initially joining the BBC as a reporter for BBC Radio 4 in 2001. He later presented various BBC programs and made significant contributions to investigative journalism, including a documentary on the Barry George case. Rowe also walked the Camino de Santiago for a BBC Two series in 2017.
Currently, Raphael Rowe serves as a reporter on BBC One's "The One Show" and "Sunday Morning Live." He has also hosted multiple seasons of "Inside the World's Toughest Prisons" on Netflix and launched his podcast called "Second Chance" in August 2020. In December 2020, he released his memoir and autobiography titled "Notorious."
In his personal life, Rowe reconnected with a woman he had been dating before his incarceration, and they had their first child in 2004. He also has a son from a previous relationship, who was initially reluctant to see him due to the accusations against him. Rowe attributes his success as a journalist to his experiences of being wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.
Rowe's story is a testament to his resilience and determination to clear his name and rebuild his life. Despite the challenges he faced, he has gone on to achieve great success in his journalism career and has become a respected and well-known figure in the industry.
