Peter Sullivan, who spent 38 years imprisoned for the murder of barmaid Diane Sindall, has been exonerated after DNA evidence emerged proving his innocence. Sullivan, now 68, broke down in tears as the Court of Appeal in London overturned his conviction, allowing him to walk free after decades of grappling with his wrongful imprisonment.
He expressed gratitude and lack of bitterness towards the justice system through his lawyer, Sarah Myatt, who read a statement on his behalf. Sullivan’s case marks him as one of the longest-serving victims of a wrongful conviction in the UK. Initially convicted in 1987, he was accused of killing Sindall after she was last seen walking home one night in August 1986; her body was discovered shortly thereafter, showing evidence of severe abuse.
Recent scientific advancements led to DNA testing that was previously unavailable. The developed evidence indicated that Sullivan could not be the perpetrator of the sexual assault, undermining the prosecution’s case that implicated him as the sole assailant. Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson acknowledged that had this DNA evidence been accessible during Sullivan’s original trial, a prosecution would have been deemed unthinkable.
Merseyside Police, which had reopened the case during Sullivan’s appeal, is now committed to identifying the true murderer. The Criminal Cases Review Commission initially declined to intervene in 2008, citing the lack of viable DNA profiling techniques at that time. However, they later revisited the case after Sullivan appealed alone in 2019, eventually using new forensic methods that exonerated him.
Justice Timothy Holroyde stated that given the new evidence, Sullivan’s conviction could not be upheld as safe. Detective efforts have since ruled out many potential suspects, including Sindall’s fiancé and extensive screenings of over 260 men.
Reflecting on the situation, Sullivan’s sister, Kim Smith, noted the toll that this case has had on both families involved. While they were relieved to have Peter home, they acknowledged the profound loss experienced by the Sindall family, who will never be reunited with their daughter.
Sullivan’s release is a harrowing reminder of the petential errors within the justice system, yet it also serves as a testament to the enduring pursuit of truth and justice.