The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the convictions for three murders of Michael Steele and Jack Arthur Whomes to the Court of Appeal.
Convictions for conspiracy to import cannabis against both men and a co-defendant Peter Thomas Corry have also been referred.
Mr Steele and Mr Whomes were convicted on 20th January 1998 at the Central Criminal Court of the murders of Patrick Tate, Anthony Tucker and Craig Rolfe. Both men were given three life sentences.
The prosecution had contended that the three victims were shot dead in a Range Rover in Rettendon, Essex, on 6 December 1995 in a gangland dispute over drugs.
Mr Corry was convicted of conspiracy to import cannabis at the same hearing and sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison. Mr Whomes and Mr Steele were also convicted of conspiracy to import cannabis and given concurrent sentences of eight years in prison.
Mr Steele, Mr Whomes and Mr Corry were refused leave to appeal by a Single Judge in July 1998 and then had their renewed applications for leave refused by the Full Court in January 1999.
Mr Steele applied to the Commission in February 1999 and made further submissions in September 2002. Mr Whomes applied to the Commission in May 2002. Mr Corry applied to the Commission in August 2004.
In April 2003 the Commission used its powers under section 19 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 to require Essex Police to appoint an investigating officer to carry out inquiries on behalf of the Commission. The Investigating Officer, who transferred from Hertfordshire Police to North Yorkshire Police during the course of his investigation, submitted an initial report in June 2004 and a further report in October 2004.
The Commission has now considered a range of issues, including new evidence which could affect the credibility of a key prosecution witness, and decided to refer the conviction to the Court of Appeal.
A Commission spokesman said: “Obviously we cannot discuss the details of individual cases, but this has been a long, complex and involved review and we are very grateful for the co-operation of Essex, Hertfordshire and North Yorkshire Police throughout this process.”
The Commission is the independent public body set up in 1997 to investigate suspected miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and decide if they should be referred to the appeal courts.
Mr Whomes legal representative is Mr James Nichol, Taylor Nichol Solicitors, 3 Station Place, London, N4 2DH. Mr Steele is not currently legally represented. Mr Corry is represented by Mr Chris Bowen.
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