PUBLISHER'S NOTE: This Blog is interested in false confessions because of the disturbing number of exonerations in the USA, Canada and multiple other jurisdictions throughout the world, where, in the absence of incriminating forensic evidence the conviction is based on self-incrimination – and because of the growing body of scientific research showing how vulnerable suspects are to widely used interrogation methods such as the notorious ‘Reid Technique.’ As all too many of this Blog's post have shown, I also recognize that pressure for false confessions can take many forms, up to and including physical violence, even physical and mental torture.
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog:
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Despite the joy of his release, Sullivan expressed no bitterness regarding his ordeal. In a heartfelt statement conveyed through his solicitor, Sarah Myatt, he remarked, “As God is my witness, it is said the truth shall set you free. It is unfortunate that it does not give a timescale.” This sentiment underscores the emotional complexity of his situation; while he is finally free, the shadow of his wrongful conviction looms large, not just over his life but over the lives of Sindall’s family, who are still grieving their loss."
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PASSAGE ONE OF THE DAY: "This new evidence prompted the Criminal Cases Review Commission to refer the case back to the Court of Appeal, where the judges confirmed that had this DNA evidence been available during Sullivan’s original trial, it would have raised doubts sufficient to overturn his conviction. Lord Justice Holroyde remarked that “the evidence as a whole would have been regarded as insufficient,” reflecting how the landscape of forensic science changed the understanding of Sullivan’s guilt."
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PASSAGE TWO OF THE DAY: "The implications of Sullivan’s exoneration extend far beyond the individual level. They highlight systemic issues within the criminal justice system regarding wrongful convictions, particularly in cases heavily reliant on circumstantial evidence. The Ministry of Justice has acknowledged the gravity of Sullivan’s situation, stating that they would investigate how such a miscarriage of justice could have occurred, seeking accountability and assurance that similar errors are not repeated in future."
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PASSAGE THREE OF THE DAY: "Sullivan’s case is not isolated. The challenges faced by individuals wrongfully convicted can vary significantly, as demonstrated by the experience of another wrongfully accused individual, Michael Sullivan from Massachusetts. After spending nearly three decades in prison, he was awarded $13 million in compensation, ultimately facing the stark reality that his home state’s laws limited the amount he could receive. With the legal framework often inadequate in addressing the suffering caused by wrongful imprisonment, many advocates argue that the compensation offered—like the £1 million Sullivan is set to receive—falls woefully short of what is just."
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STORY: "Peter Sullivan freed after 38 years as DNA evidence overturns wrongful murder conviction," by Aileen Caiden, published by Noah News, on May 13, 2025. (Communities Editor: Aileen is passionate about giving a voice to underrepresented communities. Through her work at Noah News, she sheds light on the issues that matter most to diverse groups across the UK.)
SUB-HEADING: "After nearly four decades behind bars for a murder he did not commit, Peter Sullivan has been released following a landmark Court of Appeal ruling driven by new DNA evidence. His case highlights critical flaws in the justice system’s reliance on circumstantial proof and renews calls for reform and fairer compensation for the wrongfully convicted.
GIST: "Peter Sullivan, a man wrongfully imprisoned for nearly 38 years, was finally released last night after judges quashed his conviction for the 1986 murder of florist Diane Sindall.
Now 68 years old, Sullivan is set to receive a compensation package of up to £1 million from the Ministry of Justice, a stark reminder of the toll that miscarriages of justice can take on individuals and their families.
Sullivan was convicted largely on circumstantial evidence, which prosecutors argued linked him to the brutal murder.
At his trial, the narrative presented painted him as a petty criminal with limited intelligence who had a history of drinking and violence.
However, his claims of innocence persisted throughout his incarceration, leading him to maintain that he had been coerced into making false confessions under duress from the police.
The case took a significant turn when recent advancements in DNA analysis identified an unknown male profile, not matching Sullivan, suggesting another individual could be responsible for the crime. This new evidence prompted the Criminal Cases Review Commission to refer the case back to the Court of Appeal, where the judges confirmed that had this DNA evidence been available during Sullivan’s original trial, it would have raised doubts sufficient to overturn his conviction. Lord Justice Holroyde remarked that “the evidence as a whole would have been regarded as insufficient,” reflecting how the landscape of forensic science changed the understanding of Sullivan’s guilt.
Despite the joy of his release, Sullivan expressed no bitterness regarding his ordeal. In a heartfelt statement conveyed through his solicitor, Sarah Myatt, he remarked, “As God is my witness, it is said the truth shall set you free. It is unfortunate that it does not give a timescale.” This sentiment underscores the emotional complexity of his situation; while he is finally free, the shadow of his wrongful conviction looms large, not just over his life but over the lives of Sindall’s family, who are still grieving their loss.
The implications of Sullivan’s exoneration extend far beyond the individual level. They highlight systemic issues within the criminal justice system regarding wrongful convictions, particularly in cases heavily reliant on circumstantial evidence. The Ministry of Justice has acknowledged the gravity of Sullivan’s situation, stating that they would investigate how such a miscarriage of justice could have occurred, seeking accountability and assurance that similar errors are not repeated in future.
Sullivan’s case is not isolated. The challenges faced by individuals wrongfully convicted can vary significantly, as demonstrated by the experience of another wrongfully accused individual, Michael Sullivan from Massachusetts. After spending nearly three decades in prison, he was awarded $13 million in compensation, ultimately facing the stark reality that his home state’s laws limited the amount he could receive. With the legal framework often inadequate in addressing the suffering caused by wrongful imprisonment, many advocates argue that the compensation offered—like the £1 million Sullivan is set to receive—falls woefully short of what is just.
Upon his release, Sullivan’s family expressed hope and determination to rebuild their lives around him, acknowledging the profound impacts of nearly four decades lost. His sister, Kim Smith, reflected not just on their long-awaited reunion but also extended sympathy to Sindall’s family, reminding reporters that both families have endured enduring pain and loss.
As Sullivan begins to navigate his newfound freedom, the society that detained him for so long is left questioning how such failures in the justice system continue to occur. It remains to be seen how efforts to reform these systemic issues will unfold in the wake of his release, and whether any advancements will be made to support victims of similar injustices in the future.'
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue/resource. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog.
SEE BREAKDOWN OF SOME OF THE ON-GOING INTERNATIONAL CASES (OUTSIDE OF THE CONTINENTAL USA) THAT I AM FOLLOWING ON THIS BLOG, AT THE LINK BELOW: HL:
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/120008354894645705/4704913685758792985
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FINAL WORD: (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases): "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."
Lawyer Radha Natarajan:
Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;
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FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions. They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they've exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true!
Christina Swarns: Executive Director: The Innocence Project;
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SEE BREAKDOWN OF SOME OF THE ON-GOING INTERNATIONAL CASES (OUTSIDE OF THE CONTINENTAL USA) THAT I AM FOLLOWING ON THIS BLOG, AT THE LINK BELOW: HL:
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/120008354894645705/4704913685758792985
———————————————————————————————
FINAL WORD: (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases): "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."
Lawyer Radha Natarajan:
Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;
—————————————————————————————————
FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions. They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they've exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true!
Christina Swarns: Executive Director: The Innocence Project;
