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13th May 2025
01:45pm BST
A man who was jailed for murder almost forty years ago has had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal.
Peter Sullivan was convicted of murdering Diane Sindall in Birkenhead in 1986, reports Sky News.
The 21-year-old victim was beaten, raped, and left in an alleyway to die.
Mr Sullivan, who is now 68, has maintained his innocence for decades and now new tests have revealed his DNA was not present on samples preserved at the time.
Merseyside Police are now carrying out 'an extensive investigation in a bid to identify who the new DNA profile belongs to, as to date there is no match on the national DNA database'.
Mr Sullivan was 29 at the time of the attack and was described as 'a loner'.
He denied the attack but later signed a confession however questions have been raised over whether he had genuine legal representation during police interviews.
His solicitor, Sarah Myatt, said: "He has always been trying and working towards a breakthrough. That DNA evidence was that moment for him.
"When he was told about the new evidence, he was ecstatic."
Myatt added: "We are very sensitive and respectful to the fact that there is a victim, Diane Sindall and her family, that will be affected by this process."
