In London, a man with brain damage who had been serving a life sentence for the murder of a shopkeeper in 1990 had his conviction overturned by an appeals court due to concerns about potential false confession. Oliver Campbell, who struggled with cognitive impairment and memory issues, was initially convicted based on admissions that his lawyer claimed were coerced. After nearly 34 years, Campbell expressed relief that the fight for justice was finally over and that he could move forward as an innocent man.

Now in his 50s, Campbell was convicted of the robbery and murder of Baldev Hoondle, who was shot in East London. Despite a previous unsuccessful appeal in 1994, Campbell spent years in prison before being conditionally released in 2002.

During the appeal process, Campbell’s defense lawyer argued that the police had manipulated and pressured Campbell into a false confession, taking advantage of his learning disabilities. It was highlighted that Campbell’s confessions were inconsistent and contradicted known facts of the case.

Even though a co-defendant had previously admitted to the robbery, claiming Campbell was not involved, Campbell was still convicted based on disputed evidence. Lawyers and advocates persisted in asserting Campbell’s innocence, leading to his case being reviewed by the Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal judges acknowledged the concerns raised regarding Campbell’s susceptibility to giving unreliable statements due to his mental condition. Ultimately, the court deemed the conviction as “unsafe” and decided against ordering a retrial, effectively overturning Campbell’s decades-old conviction.