Fresh doubts raised in Bamber murder case

THE conviction of one of the most notorious murderers from the 1980s is to be examined after doubts were raised over key evidence used during his trial.

Photographs which were used as evidence against Jeremy Bamber, who was convicted of murdering five of his relations, are to be reviewed after an expert claimed there were discrepancies.

Bamber has been behind bars for 23 years for shooting his wealthy adopted parents, June and Neville, his sister Sheila Caffell and her six-year-old twin sons Daniel and Nicholas at their farmhouse in Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex.

The 49-year-old, who continues to protest his innocence, was given a whole-life tariff after being convicted of the murders in October 1986.

During Bamber's trial, members of the jury were shown photographs of scratch marks which were allegedly made during a scuffle between Bamber and his adopted father.

Photographic expert Peter Sutherst examined pictures of the markings, which were alleged to have been made by a gun silencer during the struggle on the night of the murders in August 1985.

Mr Sutherst told a Sunday newspaper the scratches could have been made a month afterwards.

A spokesman from the Criminal Cases Review Commission said he could not comment on the details of an ongoing investigation.

"Mr Bamber has an application with us at the moment and his case has been with us for some time," said the spokesman.