Peter Sullivan: A Prisoner’s Hope for Justice Resurfaces with New DNA Evidence
For nearly four decades, Peter Sullivan has been imprisoned for the murder of Diane Sindall, a tragic case that has now seen a glimmer of hope with newly discovered DNA evidence.
Sullivan, then 29 and dubbed the “Beast of Birkenhead,” was initially sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for Diane’s brutal murder. The case, which involved Diane’s body being found mutilated and half-naked in an alleyway, captured the nation’s attention.
Credit: Mirrorpix
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Credit: Mercury Press Agency
The tragic night began on 1 August 1986, a time when Diane was on her way home from work at the Wellington Hotel in Birkenhead. Her body was discovered 12 hours later, still wearing her engagement ring, but in a state of severe mutilation.
Sullivan’s conviction was initially based on a confession he later retracted, claiming it was made under duress. Over the years, his steadfast insistence of innocence, coupled with recently gathered DNA evidence, has now brought his case back to the spotlight.
The Discovery of DNA Evidence
New DNA evidence, obtained by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), has brought Peter Sullivan’s case to the Court of Appeal. This evidence mismatches Sullivan’s DNA and raises significant doubts about his guilt.
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