Home / Crime and Justice / 38 Years Wrongly Jailed: Man Recounts Police Brutality
38 Years Wrongly Jailed: Man Recounts Police Brutality
19 Nov
Summary
- Man claims police beat him into falsely confessing to murder.
- New DNA tests quashed conviction after 38 years.
- Victim seeks apology, police regret injustice but uphold officers' actions.
A man released after 38 years of wrongful imprisonment has detailed claims of police mistreatment, alleging he was beaten and "bullied" into falsely confessing to murder. His conviction for the 1986 killing of Diane Sindall was overturned in May following new DNA testing. He expressed deep hurt and a lifelong burden, stating he cannot forgive those responsible.
During his interrogation, the man, who has learning difficulties, claims he was denied legal advice and sleep. He alleges officers used physical force and threats to extract a confession. Merseyside Police stated they were unaware of these specific allegations and that officers acted within the law at the time. They acknowledged legal advice was initially refused due to fears of evidence tampering.
The case was reopened in 2023 when the Criminal Cases Review Commission ordered fresh testing of semen samples. The Crown Prosecution Service did not contest the DNA results, leading to the appeal court quashing the conviction. He now awaits compensation, with his solicitor emphasizing that no amount can truly compensate for decades of lost life.
