Earle, John

John Earle was convicted in July 1998 of murder and received a sentence of life imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in November 2007.

Mr Earle and his girlfriend had been living as squatters in the same barn as the victim.

The victim’s body had been found on a beach. They had been beaten and the cause of death was strangulation.

When questioned by police, Mr Earle admitted having hit the victim. He asserted he was acting in lawful self defence. Mr Earle alleged his girlfriend had been responsible for strangling the victim.

At trial, the principal evidence against Mr Earle came from his girlfriend.

During review, the CCRC obtained new expert forensic evidence indicating that blood which had been found on a trainer belonging to Mr Earle’s girlfriend could be attributed to the victim.

The CCRC concluded that this new evidence cast significant doubt on the credibility of the evidence given by Mr Earle’s girlfriend at trial.

The CCRC referred the conviction in March 2010.

The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in January 2011.