CAMPAIGNERS fighting to free Simon Hall from prison today welcomed news that other cases involving the same pathologist were to be reviewed.
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to free Simon Hall from prison today welcomed news that other cases involving the same pathologist were to be reviewed.
Hall was convicted of killing Joan Albert in her Capel St Mary home in 2002 but has maintained his innocence.
His supporters claim evidence given in court was flawed and have requested the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) look into the case.
Michael Heath, the pathologist who investigated Mrs Albert's death, has now resigned after his conduct was criticised by a disciplinary panel.
As reported in The Evening Star yesterday the CCRC has since looked into more than 50 cases involving Dr Heath and decided nine need further review - with four already considered for referral to the Court of Appeal.
The Hall family, including his mother Lynne Hall, today issued a statement in response to the news.
It said: “We feel strongly that Simon would not have been put at the scene even, and therefore not 'in the frame' if Dr Heath had carried out the normal practice of visiting the crime scene immediately it was reported in the morning to ascertain the time of death instead of waiting to view Mrs Albert in the mortuary at 7.35pm some ten hours later.
“Simon was in Ipswich until gone 5.30am (the time leaving Ipswich was never totally confirmed) and evidence already presented in court pointed at a much earlier time of death.
“We believe this man (Dr Heath) has made serious errors of judgement which has adversely affected cases with which he has been involved with profound affects on peoples' lives, including ours.”
Hall's case has not yet been reviewed by the CCRC but Boris Worrall, a spokesman for the commission, said on Tuesday it would be looked into.
Hall who lived in Hill House Road, off Back Hamlet, Ipswich, is currently serving a life sentence for murder with the recommendation he serves at least 12 years of his sentence before he is considered for parole.
Do you think Simon Hall's case should be reviewed? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
Weblinks:
http://justice4simon.koncept07.net
www.eveningstar.co.uk/news
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