A dude got thrown in the slammer for offing someone almost 40 years ago, but turns out he didn’t do it after all. The Court of Appeal finally decided to clear his name, putting an end to what’s probably the longest injustice in British history. Peter Sullivan was accused of snuffing out Diane Sindall in Birkenhead back in August 1986. The poor 21-year-old florist was brutally attacked, raped, and left in an alleyway to die.
Peter, now 68, always said he was innocent, and new tests ordered by the Criminal Cases Review Commission backed him up. Turns out his DNA wasn’t found on the samples taken at the crime scene. “He was always hoping for a breakthrough, and that DNA evidence was it for him,” said his lawyer, Sarah Myatt. “When he heard about the new evidence, he was over the moon.”
**The Investigation Unravels**
Merseyside Police are now on the hunt to figure out whose DNA was actually found. They’re digging deep to find a match on the national DNA database. Detectives are even reaching out to folks who were looked at during the original investigation, asking them for DNA samples. Back in the day, this case was the biggest one the police had ever seen, and the viciousness of the attack left them all in shock. Diane, who was about to get hitched, had just finished her shift at a bar when her van broke down. She was on her way to get gas when the unthinkable happened.
**Doubts and Unanswered Questions**
There are now doubts about whether Peter had a fair shot during his police interviews. Plus, the evidence about bite marks on Diane’s body, which was a big deal during the trial, is now up for debate. When Peter got tried in 1987, DNA testing wasn’t a thing, and he’d been asking for new tests ever since. But those requests were shot down. A memorial stone now sits near the spot where Diane was found, honoring her memory and all the women who have suffered a similar fate.
Now, everyone’s back on edge, wondering who the real culprit is. “There’s a killer out there who took Diane Sindall’s life,” said Sarah Myatt. “We’re all scared of the unknown, and now we’re facing it head-on. Who is this person? Have we come across them before? We don’t know, but they’re out there.” Diane’s family has chosen to stay mum about the whole situation. The pub where she worked on that fateful night has a somber atmosphere. The owner, Mel John, simply said, “If he’s innocent, I’m glad he’s walking free. It’s been a long time.” Peter is fully aware of the pain Diane’s family is going through. “We’re keeping their feelings in mind,” said his lawyer.
