The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the conviction for murder of Ronald George Hill to the Court of Appeal.
Mr Hill was convicted on 6 July 1994 at Birmingham Crown Court of murdering Mr Richard Hayman on 18 May 1993. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. The prosecution contended that Mr Hill had strangled Mr Hayman during a confrontation in his Birmingham home following a bout of drinking.
Mr Hill sought leave to appeal. His appeal was dismissed in May 1995. He applied to the Commission in May 1997. In October 2000 the Commission indicated that it was not minded to refer the case.
However, in January 2001 the Commission agreed to re-consider the case. Having now considered a range of issues, including recent developments in the law of provocation, a decision has been made to refer the case.
The Commission is the independent public body set up by Parliament in 1997 to investigate suspected miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to decide if they should be referred to the appeal courts.
Mr Hill’s solicitor is Mr Elkan Abrahamson, AS Law Solicitors , Myrtle Parade, Liverpool, L7 7EL, tel 0151 707 1212.
This press release was issued by Boris Worrall, Head of Communication, Criminal Cases Review Commission on 0121 633 1806 or 07947 355231
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