European Court Grand Chamber Ruling

“I am the only person in the UK who was [retrospectively] given a life tariff on a majority verdict that maintains innocence. The verdict today seems in so many ways to be hollow, as I am still serving a prison sentence for a crime I did not commit. My whole life order has now been given a system of reviews, but there is no provision for someone who is wrongly convicted to prove that they are worthy of release, such hope is in reality, no hope at all.

Reviews and parole hearings are subject to a risk assessment to gauge dangerousness and this is influenced by the inmate’s confession, remorse and rehabilitation for reintegration back into the community. In my case I do not fit the criteria for parole on this basis. 

The justice system, despite the investment in the Criminal Cases Review Commission, still refuses to accept that there are prisoners who are innocent of the crimes they have been convicted of and this comes into conflict with sentence reviews. 

While there are some people who have been released at the end of their sentence and still maintained innocence, such as Eddie Gilfoyle and Susan May, it is unlikely that I would ever be released without my conviction being overturned in a court of law simply because of the high profile nature of my case. As is always, the law does not apply if it assists me in anyway.” 


Jeremy Bamber 
Find out more about Jeremy's sentence click here