Who is Peter Sullivan? Freedom after 38 years in prison

Tuesday, May 14, 2025 — In what is now being called the longest-running miscarriage of justice involving a living inmate in the United Kingdom, Peter Sullivan, 68, has finally been declared innocent of a murder he did not commit.

Who is Peter Sullivan?

Sullivan, who had been serving a life sentence since 1987, broke down in tears as he watched the Court of Appeal proceedings via video link from Wakefield Prison. The court overturned his conviction, clearing him of the 1986 murder of Diane Sindall, a 21-year-old woman who was brutally attacked while walking home from work in Bebington, near Liverpool.

New DNA Evidence Changes Everything

The key to Sullivan’s release was new DNA evidence uncovered by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The evidence, taken from forensic samples collected during the original investigation, showed that the DNA found at the crime scene did not match Sullivan.

This new finding directly contradicted the evidence used to convict him nearly four decades ago, which included bite-mark analysis and the alleged murder weapon—both now considered unreliable.

A Man Wrongly Imprisoned for 37 Years

Sullivan was just 30 years old when he was arrested. He had maintained his innocence from the start. Over the years, he made several unsuccessful appeals. It wasn’t until 2021 that he approached the CCRC, highlighting flaws in his police interviews and the questionable forensic evidence used against him.

After reviewing the case, the CCRC referred it to the Court of Appeal, leading to Tuesday’s decision to quash his conviction and order his immediate release.

Sullivan’s Reaction

In a statement read by his lawyer outside the court, Sullivan said he was “not angry” or “bitter”, despite spending nearly four decades in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. His calm and forgiving tone deeply moved those following the case.

The Victim: Diane Sindall

The original crime, committed in October 1986, shocked the community of Bebington. Diane Sindall was walking home from work when she was attacked, sexually assaulted, and beaten to death. Her murder left a lasting impact on the area, and the wrongful conviction of Peter Sullivan has now added another tragic layer to her case.

What’s Next?

Peter Sullivan is now a free man after 37 years behind bars. Legal experts and human rights groups are calling for a full investigation into the original handling of the case. There are also growing calls for compensation and public accountability.

This case has reopened the conversation around wrongful convictions in the UK, particularly how outdated forensic methods and flawed police procedures have destroyed innocent lives.