Bamber conviction scrutinised in book
The East Anglian Daily Times
22 September 2008
THE conviction of
one of Essex's most notorious killers has
come under new scrutiny by a justice campaigner.
Jeremy Bamber is currently serving a life sentence after being found guilty
of the murder of his adoptive parents, sister and twin six-year-old nephews
in 1986.
He has always maintained his innocence and now his case has been taken up by
crime writer Scott Loma - who previously campaigned on behalf of Barry
George, released from prison in August seven years after being wrongly jailed
of killing television presenter Jill Dando.
Mr Lomax has conducted extensive interviews with Bamber - who has had two
appeals against his conviction turned down - and has now re-assessed the case
in the light of “new evidence”.
During the high profile trial, the judge said it was a simple case of either
Bamber or his sister Shelia Caffell being responsible for the killings, and
nobody else.
Bamber blamed his schizophrenic sister for carrying out the killings of their
adoptive parents, June and Nevill, and her two sons
before turning the gun on herself.
A jury delivered a majority guilty verdict at the end of the trial,
convicting the then 25-year-old of shooting all five members of his family at
White House Farm in Tolleshunt Darcy.
But Bamber has always maintained the possibility of a third potential killer,
reported to have been seen in the farmhouse around the time of the murders,
should have been put to the jury.
Mr Lomax agrees and has published a new book, Jeremy Bamber: Evil, Almost
Beyond Belief?, supporting his theories.
He said: “I do not believe, having studied the evidence in depth, that
a third person was responsible but it is something the jury should have been
allowed to consider.
“There is a wealth of evidence now available which the jury never got
to see. I have had extensive access to it and it makes for fascinating
viewing.”
He said he had spent five years researching the matter and working on the new
book - a “detailed re-assessment” of the complex case.
He said: “I have interviewed Jeremy Bamber on several occasions to
provide a thorough account of the White House Farm tragedy and the aftermath
as well as an account of his life in prison.
“I have had extensive access to photographs and documents from the
defence, prosecution and police to provide a full argument and appraisal of
all of the available evidence.”
At his trial, Mr Justice Drake said Bamber was “evil, almost beyond
belief” and was originally handed a 25-year term, but earlier this year
a judge ruled his crimes were “so serious” he should never be
released.
The case is currently being looked at by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
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