Man jailed for murder cleared over suspect police confession

News in pictures
World news in pictures
From the blogs

World Refugee Day: Thousands of displaced Syrians live on a knife edge

Standing by her makeshift tent in the unofficial camp of Baynjan , northern Iraq, Nasrin showed me t...

The day the police came for the man who now runs the Care Commission

David Prior's very personal reason for thinkg that investigators need appropriate expertise

Million pound investment to bring Liverpool homes back into use

Dozens of empty homes in two of Liverpool’s most deprived areas will be brought back into use thanks...

Dish of the Day: The Reluctant Vegetarian’s recipe for Triple the Greens Risotto

As a reluctant vegetarian (so reluctant that I'm not vegetarian at all) and a reluctant risotto eate...

       

A man who served 14 years of a life sentence for murder has had his conviction quashed after evidence revealed that his confession to police had been obtained during three days of questioning without a solicitor present. The overturned conviction is the latest miscarriage of justice involving interview evidence obtained by officers from Nottinghamshire Police during the Eighties.

The Court of Appeal yesterday declared the murder conviction of Patrick Nolan "unsafe". Mr Nolan, who was 19 at the time, was found guilty of bludgeoning 64-year-old Eric Carver to death while he slept at his home in Lenton, Nottingham, in December 1980.

The conviction in 1982 was based on Mr Nolan's confession to police, which he retracted shortly after making it, and has always protested was made under duress. There was no forensic evidence, no description, no murder weapon and no conclusive motive. At the trial, Mr Nolan claimed he was beaten by an officer during his questioning.

Lord Justice Tuckey - sitting yesterday at the Court of Appeal in London with Mr Justice Holman and Mr Justice Hodge - told the court: "The proof of murder depended entirely on the confession of a 19-year-old, illiterate man, made in the course of 11 hours of interviews, over three days, without a solicitor present."

The judge said the court had read evidence from two psychologists, who concluded that Mr Nolan had a "compliant" personality at the time. They singled out a range of disquieting aspects, including Mr Nolan's references to remembering the crime as if it were a "dream". In all, 6,000 people were questioned over Mr Carver's death, the court heard, with two others also making "confessions".

"Judged by modern standards in the light of this new evidence, we have no hesitation in declaring this conviction unsafe," ruled Lord Justice Tuckey.

Mr Nolan, now 44, has already been released on licence. He is reportedly seeking compensation of £1.5m. His case was referred to the Appeal Court by the Criminal Cases Review Commission - the body that investigates suspected miscarriages of justice.

At least two other convictions involving confessions obtained by the Nottinghamshire force have been quashed because of suspect questioning.

Day In a Page

Babies behind bars: A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail

Babies behind bars

A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail
Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm for under 25s

Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm

Is Mosquito, the alarm only under-25s can hear, a blessing or a bane?
The art of living in small spaces: Architects are learning how to make less, more

The art of living in small spaces

Space in cities at a premium so architects are learning how to make less, more...
Special report: The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

After four 'nice' years as Governor of Bank of England, things turned decisively nasty
Zombie nation: Our enduring fascination with a world full of death and destruction

Zombie nation: Our fascination with death and destruction

A new season of shows on Radio 4 is inspired by dark tales of future dystopias. Meanwhile, zombies are marauding in the multiplexes...
Martin Stephen: 'Ofsted says comprehensives are failing the most able but teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

'Teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

It doesn't take a selective system to nurture the best minds, says a former head of St Paul's boys' school.
The retail empires strike back: Can new technology lure us back to the high street?

Can technology lure us back to the high street?

The high street has been bruised and battered by online firms but in-store technology is helping to enliven the retail experience...
The 10 Best new smartphones

The 10 Best new smartphones

Photos, films, music, apps and browsing - the latest mobiles can do it all
Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

McLaren man admits 'failed gamble' with car has left him pinning hopes on 2014 campaign
James Lawton: Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe

James Lawton

Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe
'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong': The true effect of the badger cull

The true effect of the badger cull

'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong'
Theatre review: Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's The Cripple of Inishmaan

First night: The Cripple of Inishmaan

Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's comedy
Girls Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

After 103 years, organisation changes oath to welcome 'all girls, of all faiths, and none'
Steve Tongue: Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago

Steve Tongue

Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago
Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Bradley Wiggins' exit

Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Wiggins' exit

Sky's lead rider says he is in fantastic form for the Tour and happy pecking order debate is over