In a landmark decision, Oliver Campbell, a man with severe learning difficulties, has been cleared of a murder conviction that plagued him for three decades. This ruling marks the end of a grave miscarriage of justice in British legal history and sheds light on past policing errors and the role of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).
Campbell, now 54, was found guilty in 1991 for the murder of Baldev Hoondle based on false confessions made during police interrogations. Expert testimony revealed Campbell’s cognitive challenges and susceptibility to coercion.
Despite evidence linking him to the crime scene, including a baseball cap and an association with another suspect, subsequent analysis discredited these connections. Campbell spent over a decade behind bars before his release in 2002.
The CCRC’s decision to refer Campbell’s case to the court of appeal in 2022 underscores evolving standards of justice and newfound expert insights. In an interview prior to his appeal hearing, Campbell expressed regret over missed opportunities for a fulfilling life denied by wrongful incarceration.
2024-09-11 04:40:51
Post from www.theguardian.com