Summary
Peter Sullivan was in prison for 38 years, believed to be one of the longest wrongful imprisonments in British history, after being wrongly convicted of murdering Diane Sindall in 1986. His conviction was overturned after a Court of Appeal hearing, revealing flaws in the initial police investigation.
Key Facts
- Peter Sullivan was jailed for 38 years for a murder he did not commit.
- Diane Sindall, the murder victim, was a 21-year-old woman from Wirral.
- She was last seen alive leaving work at the Wellington pub in 1986.
- Her body was found the next morning in Birkenhead, after she ran out of petrol and began walking home.
- Evidence from the BBC and court documents was key in understanding what happened and eventually overturning Sullivan's conviction.
- The murder led to significant fear in the area and increased measures for women's safety.
- Merseyside Police interviewed 3,000 people during their investigation.
- The case prompted the first "Reclaim the Night" march on Merseyside, advocating for women's safety.
