Justice for Sam Hallam: General Election contenders quizzed
Hoxton man Sam Hallam
One hundred voters have written to all General Election candidates in Hackney South and Shoreditch constituency asking where they stand on the case of Hoxton man Sam Hallam, convicted of murder in what is widely believed as a miscarriage of justice.
At the same time, households across Hoxton have put up posters in their windows advising political canvassers not to seek their votes unless they support justice for prisoner Sam Hallam now in his sixth year of life imprisonment for a murder that campaigners say he did not commit.
The letter to candidates highlights the fact that new evidence supporting Sam Hallam’s innocence was presented to the Criminal Cases Review Commission more than two years ago.
However, no decision is imminent as to whether his conviction will be referred back to the courts.
A major reason for excessive delays in investigating pleas of innocence has been government cutbacks in the Commission’s funding, which has seen staffing levels fall dramatically.
Said campaign spokesperson Paul May,”There are many important issues to be considered by voters in this election but these must surely include concern for justice as it affects an innocent local man and his family.
“As well as cutting back on investigations into the cases of wrongly convicted prisoners, the government has slashed legal aid provision making miscarriages of justice even more likely in the future.
“These cuts have already forced a local Hackney lawyers’ firm with a national reputation for overturning wrongful convictions to close down and merge its staff with another company outside the borough.
“Sam’s family, neighbours, friends and supporters in Hackney South and Shoreditch will monitor candidates’ replies to their letter closely to assess whether they really care about justice for innocent prisoners.”