A former labourer who spent the last 38 years in jail for the murder of a young florist was dramatically set free today after a court found new DNA evidence rendered the conviction unsafe.
Peter Sullivan has repeatedly tried to get the murder conviction overturned amid concerns about the evidence used against him found on 21-year-old Diane Sindall's body and gleaned from police interviews.
But 'newly discovered' DNA evidence which has emerged in the last two years suggested Mr Sullivan was wrongly jailed, despite spending most of his adult life incarcerated.
Appeal Court judges today found in favour of the 68-year-old, who has learning difficulties, marking the longest miscarriage of justice in UK history.
Mr Sullivan, watching the hearing remotely from HMP Wakefield, sat with his arms folded over his chest and showed no emotion as the three judges, led by Lord Justice Holroyde, announced their decision following a two-hour hearing.
