Judges ruled that Oliver Campbell’s conviction for the murder of a shopkeeper in July 1990 was “unsafe”.
A man with learning disabilities who says he felt under pressure to confess to murder has had his conviction quashed after 33 years.
Three judges ruled on Wednesday that Oliver Campbell’s conviction for the murder of Baldev Hoondle in Hackney in July 1990 was “unsafe”.
Oliver Campbell said he can now start his life as an innocent man.
His purported confession at the time was made up amid the stress of being interviewed, judges have previously heard.
In their ruling, Lord Justice Holroyde, sitting with Mr Justice Bourne and Mrs Justice Stacey, said they had “concluded that the convictions are unsafe”.
On Wednesday morning, Mr Campbell told the PA news agency: “The fight for justice is finally over after nearly 34 years. I can start my life an innocent man.”
His supporters added: “We are all in tears. Ollie’s life starts now.”
Mr Campbell’s lawyers and supporters say his confession at the time simply mirrored what he had watched on BBC’s Crimewatch.
In 1991, Mr Campbell was jailed for life after being convicted of the murder of Mr Hoondle, who had been shot dead in a botched robbery carried out by two men.
Mr Campbell was released on a life licence in 2002 and lives on his own with the assistance of a close group of friends and helpers.
The quashing of the conviction comes 20 years after the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the miscarriages of justice body, rejected his pleas for help – and after two inquiries were triggered into how it had handled the case of Andy Malkinson, who was cleared of rape after a 20-year campaign.
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