Calling all musicians!

Hoxton man Sam Hallam

Campaigners for Sam Hallam, the Hoxton man jailed for life for a murder he says he did not commit, are to hold a classical music concert outside the Ministry of Justice in protest at Hallam’s continued imprisonment and the delay in investigating his appeal case. They have issued a call for musicians to join them in their protest.

The concert, conducted by Harry Ogg, Conductor of Sinfonia d’Amici,  is taking place on Friday 19 February outside the Ministry of Justice offices in Whitehall.

The three concert pieces chosen are:

Messiaen’s Appel interstellaire from Des Canyons Aux Etoiles requiring solo horn. Could you play this or do you know someone who could?

Messaien’s Abîme des Oiseaux from Quartet for the End of Time requiring solo clarinet. Could you play this or do you know someone who could?

Overture to Beethoven’s Fidelio requiring violins (as many as possible), violas (as many as possible), cellos (as many as possible), basses (as many as possible), 2 flutes,  2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trombones

Musicians wishing to play should contact Tom Ogg at tom.ogg@gmail.com.

For Facebook members, further details and sign up here.

The Sam Hallam campaign

Dubbed the ‘Hoxton One’, the Sam Hallam campaign is being spearheaded by his family, friends and neighbours, and Paul May – a campaigner who helped overturn the wrongful convictions of the Birmingham Six and the Guildford Four.

Since his conviction five years ago, supporters have consistently protested Hallam’s innocence . They claim that the Ministry of Justice has imposed stringent budget cuts on the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which is damaging its ability to investigate cases quickly and effectively.

Hallam was 17 when he was convicted of murdering Ethiopian chef Essayas Kassahun, in a gang attack in the St Luke’s estate in Clerkenwell. In 2008, after a five year campaign, new witness statements were put forward which suggested that Hallam was not at the scene of the crime and was playing football half a mile away.

In light of this new evidence, the Criminal Case Review Commission (CCRC) announced that they would review the case in June 2009. The CCRC has the power to investigate possible miscarriages of justice and to decide whether convictions should be referred back to the Court of Appeal.

More details here.

Previous story here.