After spending an unimaginable 38 years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit, Peter Sullivan is finally free.
The 68-year-old former labourer was dramatically released from prison after new DNA evidence came to light, proving that he wasn’t the killer.
His conviction, initially for the murder of young florist Diane Sindall in 1987, was quashed today in a landmark decision, marking one of the longest miscarriages of justice in UK history.
The Discovery of New Evidence
Sullivan’s case took a shocking turn when the Court of Appeal reviewed the new scientific evidence, which revealed that the DNA found at the crime scene didn’t match his.
This revelation, based on advanced DNA testing, was enough to convince the three judges that his conviction was unsafe.
Sullivan had spent nearly four decades behind bars for a crime that, it turns out, he never committed.
From his prison cell in HMP Wakefield, Sullivan watched the historic court hearing, showing no outward emotion as the judges announced their decision.
His family, watching from the public gallery, were visibly moved, with many shedding tears of relief.
In a statement read out by his lawyer, Sullivan expressed a mixture of resignation and hope: “I lost my liberty four decades ago over a crime I did not commit… I am simply anxious to return to my loved ones.”
The Road to Freedom
The case against Sullivan was based on circumstantial evidence, including a crowbar that he had borrowed from a neighbour and witness testimonies placing him near the scene.
However, the key to his wrongful conviction was the DNA evidence, which, at the time of the trial, wasn’t available.
The investigation was based on forensic methods that were outdated, and the science we rely on today was not in place back then.
Sullivan’s wrongful conviction was exacerbated by flawed police procedures, including his forced confession.
His defence team argued that he had been denied an appropriate adult during questioning, and his rights had been violated.
This new DNA evidence, however, invalidated the circumstantial case that led to his original conviction.
The Role of DNA in the Case
The case against Sullivan began in 1986 when 21-year-old Diane Sindall was murdered after leaving her job as a florist in Bebington, Birkenhead, Merseyside.
She was ambushed, sexually assaulted, and brutally beaten to death.
The DNA found on her body, however, has now been attributed to a completely unknown individual, not Sullivan.
For years, the investigation failed to uncover this critical evidence.
But in 2024, advancements in forensic science allowed for the re-examination of old DNA samples, which led to the shocking discovery that the DNA didn’t match Sullivan.
This revelation is a turning point in a case that, until now, had been deemed a closed chapter.
A New Investigation into Diane Sindall’s Murder
With this new evidence, Merseyside Police have reopened the investigation into Diane Sindall’s tragic death.
Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill emphasized the importance of finding the person whose DNA was left at the crime scene.
So far, over 260 men have been screened, but the true identity of the killer remains elusive.
The police are using the latest technologies and the expertise of the National Crime Agency to try and identify the unknown individual.
The investigation is ongoing, and detectives are hopeful that the DNA evidence will eventually lead them to the person responsible for this heinous crime.
The Legacy of Peter Sullivan’s Case
Peter Sullivan’s case has not only brought to light the devastating impact of wrongful convictions but also highlighted the advancements in forensic science that can now correct past mistakes.
His release is a bittersweet victory.
While he is free, the 68-year-old will never be able to undo the decades of lost time, and the scars of his wrongful imprisonment will remain with him forever.
Now that Sullivan is free, his family is finally able to embrace him after years of waiting for this moment.
His solicitor, Sarah Myatt, called it an “unprecedented and historic moment,” reflecting the significance of Sullivan’s release.
For Sullivan, it’s a chance to rebuild his life, though he acknowledges that the trauma of the past is something he will carry with him for the rest of his days.
The Continuing Impact on Justice
The case of Peter Sullivan serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of ensuring that justice is always served.
It underscores how crucial it is to continue advancing scientific methods and legal practices to prevent future miscarriages of justice.
As we move forward, it’s vital that the lessons learned from this case lead to improvements in the criminal justice system, ensuring that innocent individuals are never again subjected to such a devastating ordeal.
With Peter Sullivan’s conviction quashed and a new investigation underway, there is hope that the true perpetrator of Diane Sindall’s murder will finally be brought to justice, and that Sullivan will be able to begin the long process of healing from the trauma he endured.