After nearly four decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit, Peter Sullivan’s long ordeal finally ended when the Court of Appeal overturned his conviction. The breakthrough came with new DNA evidence that pointed to an unknown assailant, exonerating Sullivan in the 1986 murder of Diane Sindall. As authorities delve back into the case, the quest for justice intensifies, with investigators striving to unravel the mystery of this unresolved crime.
Sullivan, who spent 38 years imprisoned for the murder of 21-year-old barmaid Diane Sindall, saw his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after advanced forensic testing unveiled a DNA profile that did not match his own. This revelation cast serious doubt on the validity of his conviction, marking a significant moment in his fight for justice.
Aged 68 and believed to have endured one of the most prolonged miscarriages of justice for a living prisoner in British history, Sullivan’s emotional reaction to the ruling reflected the weight of his wrongful incarceration. Through a video link from HMP Wakefield, Sullivan expressed relief rather than bitterness, proclaiming that “the truth shall set you free.”
The emergence of fresh DNA evidence dealt a severe blow to the prosecution’s case, prompting the Crown Prosecution Service to acknowledge the undermining of Sullivan’s conviction. Consequently, the decision was made not to pursue a retrial, affirming the unsafe nature of the initial conviction.
With Sullivan’s release, Merseyside Police reignited its investigation into Diane Sindall’s murder. Despite screening and eliminating over 260 men since 2023, the search for the unknown suspect continues. Advanced forensic methods, supported by the National Crime Agency, are now being employed to unmask the true perpetrator behind this heinous crime.
The original case against Sullivan rested heavily on bite mark evidence, now called into question by forensic experts due to its unreliability. Moreover, Sullivan’s learning difficulties and the absence of legal representation during interrogation added complexity to the case, raising concerns about the integrity of the investigation.
In the aftermath of Sullivan’s release, calls for justice and accountability reverberated. His sister, Kim Smith, extended sympathy to the Sindall family, recognizing the absence of winners in this tragic saga. The CPS director of legal services emphasized the necessity of overturning the conviction in light of the compelling new DNA results.
The brutal attack on Diane Sindall, a young woman with dreams of a wedding, remains a haunting chapter in the quest for justice. With Sullivan now freed, the focus shifts to identifying the true perpetrator responsible for this senseless act of violence, as authorities strive to bring closure to a long-standing unsolved crime.