Oliver Campbell's 1991 Murder Conviction of Baldev Singh Hoondle Quashed After 33 Years

Sep 11, 2024, 09:55 AM

Oliver Campbell, who was jailed for life in 1991 for the murder of a shopkeeper, Baldev Singh Hoondle, in Hackney, London, has had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal. Campbell, who has severe learning difficulties and brain damage, spent 33 years in prison. He had long claimed that he felt under pressure to confess to the murder. The Court of Appeal ruled that his conviction was 'unsafe' due to questions about the reliability of his confessions in light of fresh evidence. The case had been referred by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). There will be no retrial.