Supporters hope to launch fresh appeal in Gilfoyle murder case

Aug 13 2008 by Sue McCann, Birkenhead News

CAMPAIGNERS hoping to free a Wirral man they believe was wrongly convicted of the murder of his wife have been given fresh hope that a new appeal could be launched.

It has been reported that Court of Appeal judges made a mistake when they upheld Eddie Gilfoyle’s conviction at his most recent appeal in 2000.

It relates to the suicide note which prosecutors said he dictated to his pregnant wife, Paula, before hanging her to make it look like suicide.

However, it was reported earlier this week that the Court of Appeal judges thought her final letter had been typed, when it was actually in Mrs Gilfoyle’s handwriting.

It is thought this error could pave the way for a new appeal by Gilfoyle, who so far has served 15 years of a life sentence, and has always maintained his innocence.

Andrew Roberts, of Warwick School of Law, said: “An error of fact that provides the basis of the decision on appeal could be the subject of further appeal.”

Gilfoyle’s case is now with the Criminal Cases Review Commission, and his family hope a third appeal will be granted.

Criminal profiler Professor David Canter, of Liverpool University, said earlier this year that his expert evidence reassessing the suicide note found at the scene was not taken into account by judges at his previous appeal.

Eddie Gilfoyle was jailed in July 1993 for the murder of his wife, who was eight months pregnant, in a case which shocked the region.