Cheers as murder appeal man bailed (From Hereford Times)

Cheers as murder appeal man bailed

4:21pm Wednesday 16th May 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

A young man who has spent more than seven years behind bars for a murder he has always insisted he did not commit was greeted by emotional scenes as he was freed on bail by the Court of Appeal.

Sam Hallam, 24, who was 18 when convicted and sentenced to life at the Old Bailey, was released from the cells at the Royal Courts of Justice in London where his mother Wendy and dozens of supporters were waiting for him.

Mr Hallam was released on bail by three leading judges after the prosecution announced it was not opposing his challenge against his conviction for the murder of a trainee chef.

He was convicted in October 2005 of the murder of Essayas Kassahun, 21, who died after being attacked by a group of youths on the St Luke's estate in Clerkenwell, London, in October 2004.

Since his conviction, Mr Hallam's family and friends have mounted a high-profile campaign insisting he is innocent.

His case came before the appeal judges after it was referred to the court by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the independent body which investigates possible miscarriages of justice.

Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with Mr Justice Openshaw and Mr Justice Spencer, will give their ruling in the case at noon on Thursday, when they are expected to quash his conviction.

They heard submissions on his behalf that he had been the victim of a "serious miscarriage of justice".