[Ammi]

Peter Sullivan was convicted of murdering Diane Sindall in Birkenhead in August 1986 but a review found his DNA was not present on samples preserved at the time.
A man jailed for murder nearly 40 years ago has had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal, ending what's thought to be the longest-running miscarriage of justice in British history.

Peter Sullivan was convicted of murdering Diane Sindall in Birkenhead in August 1986. The 21-year-old florist had been beaten and raped and left in an alleyway.

Mr Sullivan, 68, had always maintained his innocence and new tests, ordered by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, revealed his DNA was not present on samples preserved at the time.

"He has always been trying and working towards a breakthrough. That DNA evidence was that moment for him," said his solicitor Sarah Myatt.

"When he was told about the new evidence, he was ecstatic."


Merseyside Police have confirmed detectives are now "carrying out an extensive investigation in a bid to identify who the new DNA profile belongs to, as to date there is no match on the national DNA database".

Detectives are also contacting individuals identified in the original investigation to request voluntary DNA samples.

That original investigation was the largest in the force's history and, for many officers, the "frenzied" nature of the attack made it the worst case they had ever encountered.

Ms Sindall, who was engaged to be married, had just left her shift as a part-time barmaid at a pub in Bebington when her small blue van ran out of petrol.

Ms Sindall's family told Sky News they did not want to comment on the case.

Mel John, landlord of the pub where Ms Sindall worked on the night of her death, said: "I'm glad he's being released if he's innocent. It has been a long time."

Mr Sullivan is also aware, his solicitor says, of the impact on Ms Sindall's family.

"We are very sensitive and respectful to the fact that there is a victim, Diane Sindall and her family, that will be affected by this process," the solicitor said.

[Niamh.]

I wonder what evidence they convicted him on originally? Absolutely awful if he was innocent though of course

[Ammi]

…this is on the BBC News site, it’s just a brief article section, I think that I might look for more in-depth information….


Why was Peter Sullivan jailed?
The day after Ms Sindall's murder some of her clothes were found burning in a small fire on nearby Bidston Hill, and a passing couple told police they saw a man, running out of bushes, whom they recognised as "Pete".
But they failed to pick him out of an identity parade.
More witnesses to the fire contacted the police after the Crimewatch reconstruction, and their descriptions of the man they saw prompted the police to go back to Sullivan.
He was arrested for murder on 23 September after he gave officers a number of "completely different" accounts of his movements.
The next day, court documents show Sullivan broke down in tears under questioning and "confessed" to the murder.
He withdrew the apparent confession later that day, but reinstated it soon afterwards.
Sullivan had not been given access to legal advice by that point. It had been withheld on the grounds that it would have caused a "hindrance to the enquiry".
When he was given access to a solicitor on 25 September, he retracted his confessions and told police he had made them up.
His trial in 1987 was told about his apparent confessions, as well as claims from dental experts that bite marks on Ms Sindall's body could be matched to Mr Sullivan's teeth.
On the night Sullivan was jailed for life for murder, BBC North West Tonight reported how he stood silently in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court, while his mother broke down and screamed, and his sister fainted and had to be revived.
After Sullivan was sentenced, Det Supt Tom Baxter told the BBC Sullivan "wasn't an excitable person", adding "he seemed to be a quiet sort of fellow - but what is the type of person that commit these murders?"
Mr Sullivan was then condemned to be known for the rest of his life by the names he had been given by some of the tabloid newspapers - "the Beast of Birkenhead" and "the Mersey Ripper".

[Niamh.]

I mean there's probably enough there with the confession and changing story about his whereabouts however his statements would all be thrown out nowadays because they didn't allow him to have a Solicitor present

[Ammi]

….the person who raped and beat Diane Sindall to death obviously walked as a free person through their lives…I wonder if they did kill again and maybe were convicted on that murder but this one was never connected…it would feel that, that person may have killed again…

[Zizu]

So very sad for the poor guy

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Ammi

….the person who raped and beat Diane Sindall to death obviously walked as a free person through their lives…I wonder if they did kill again and maybe were convicted on that murder but this one was never connected…it would feel that, that person may have killed again…

Yeah, I doubt someone who rapes and kills women off the street ever do it as a one time thing, especially if they get away with it

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Yeah, I doubt someone who rapes and kills women off the street ever do it as a one time thing, especially if they get away with it

…such a frenzied attack, someone said that they had only seen those severe injuries in horrific car accidents…and obviously a rapist as well, it just feels that, that may not have been a one time crime …so then did this person live a free life or was convicted of another crime…I guess that’ll all be looked into now…

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…such a frenzied attack, someone said that they had only seen those severe injuries in horrific car accidents…and obviously a rapist as well, it just feels that, that may not have been a one time crime …so then did this person live a free life or was convicted of another crime…I guess that’ll all be looked into now…

If he was convicted of something else then they should be able to find him as they would have his DNA on file hopefully