Summary
Peter Sullivan was recently released from prison after spending over 38 years behind bars for a murder he did not commit. New DNA evidence helped clear his name, revealing faults in the investigation and legal process that kept him imprisoned for so long.
Key Facts
- Peter Sullivan was imprisoned for over 38 years for the 1986 murder of Diane Sindall.
- His conviction was quashed based on new DNA evidence, which was not available or considered earlier.
- The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) ordered DNA tests that helped overturn Sullivan's conviction.
- Sullivan originally applied to the CCRC for DNA analysis in 2008, but his request was denied due to limited testing capabilities at the time.
- The CCRC admitted that alternative DNA techniques could have been tried earlier but were not pursued.
- This release highlights ongoing issues with the appeals system in England and Wales, with similar cases happening in the past.
- The quashing of his conviction leaves Merseyside Police with an unsolved murder case.
