New evidence in case of Jeremy Bamber may lead to appeal

Jeremy Bamber was found guilty in October 1986 of shooting his adoptive parents, his sister and her six-year-old twins at their farmhouse in Essex. Home Secretary Michael Howard ruled that he should never be released.

Now Bamber’s solicitor, Marcus Farrar, of Chivers Solicitors, based in Bingley, says newly-released evidence could contest the conviction.

He told a national newspaper: “The evidence includes previously undisclosed crime scene photographs.

“We have worked extremely hard in having highly-experienced forensic experts consider this new evidence, and all of the findings they have made have been very positive indeed.”

It is understood that the Criminal Cases Review Commission has received new information in connection with the case and is considering whether it should refer the matter to the Court of Appeal. Any new appeal would be the third time Bamber has attempted to clear his name.

The fresh evidence is understood to include the photographs, blood splatter analysis from director of the Laboratory for Forensic Science in New York Herbert Leon MacDonell, and police notes from the morning of the tragedy.

Lawyers say negatives of police pictures taken at crime scene suggest the body of Bamber’s sister, Sheila Caffell, may have been moved by police.

Transcripts of police notebooks also reveal there was “movement” inside the farmhouse when Bamber was outside with police officers.

Bamber’s mother June, 61, nephews Nicholas and Daniel, father Nevill, 61, and sister Sheila, 27, were found shot dead at White House Farm, in Tolleshunt, Essex, on August 7, 1985.

Bamber, now 47, was convicted after his girlfriend, Julie Mugford, told police he had repeatedly bragged that he would one day kill or hire an assassin to wipe out his parents so he could pick up a £436,000 inheritance.

Initially it was believed that Bamber’s sister had executed her family before turning the gun on herself.