Man with severe learning difficulties has his 1990 conviction for murder quashed

A man with severe learning difficulties who was jailed for life for the murder of a shopkeeper three decades ago after confessing in police interviews, has had his convictions quashed by the court of appeal.

- Daniel Boffey

The judgment clearing Oliver Campbell, 54, of conspiracy to rob and murder ends one of the longest miscarriages of justice in British criminal history, and will throw a new focus on past policing failures and the current approach of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

Campbell said: "The fight for justice is finally over after nearly 34 years. I can start my life an innocent man." Campbell, who suffered a severe brain injury as a baby, was convicted at the age of 21 at the Old Bailey in 1991 of the murder of a London off-licence keeper, Baldev Hoondle, after confessing during the 11th of 14 police interviews, some of which were carried out without a solicitor.

The court of appeal heard from expert witnesses that Campbell had an IQ of 73 and scored "abnormally high" for acquiescence, with an "extreme tendency to just, when in doubt, say yes".

His barrister, Michael Birnbaum KC, told the court police had "badgered and bullied" him into giving a false confession.