A British man who spent 38 years in prison for a murder he always denied committing has been exonerated after new DNA evidence proved he was not the killer — marking one of the longest-known miscarriages of justice in modern UK history.
Peter Sullivan, 68, was convicted in 1987 for the murder of 21-year-old Diane Sindall, who was attacked and killed in Birkenhead, northwest England. Sullivan initially confessed during police interviews but later said the confession was coerced. He maintained his innocence throughout nearly four decades behind bars.
On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction after advanced DNA testing revealed a male profile from the crime scene that did not match Sullivan. The evidence was uncovered by the Criminal Cases Review Commission and deemed by the Crown Prosecution Service to “fundamentally undermine” the original case.
Lord Justice Holroyde told the court it was “in the interests of justice” to accept the new evidence. Sullivan, appearing by videolink from HMP Wakefield, broke down in tears as the ruling was delivered.
Merseyside Police have reopened the investigation and are pursuing new forensic leads. Detectives are contacting individuals from the original inquiry for voluntary DNA samples.
Sullivan’s solicitor, Sarah Myatt, said the breakthrough underscored the value of forensic advancements but expressed sympathy for the Sindall family, who have endured decades without resolution.
The case has reignited calls for expanded review of historic convictions using modern science.
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